Garbage-Blocked Freeway Drains Cause Crashes In Arlington
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ARLINGTON (CBSDFW.COM) - Need another reason to pick up your trash? Then consider this: freeway drains blocked by garbage likely contributed to several crashes Thursday morning. Firefighters were seen plucking trash from blocked drains along southbound 360 in Arlington near Six Flags Drive.
Earlier, a car lost control after hitting the water pooling in the inside lanes. Several crashes followed. Nearby business owner William Bluitt was relieved to have missed the traffic mess. He had his own close call a few months earlier.
"Someone spinned out in front of me," recalled Bluitt, "that's what made me start slowing down." The experience, he said, was a wake up call as well. "It was real scary, because I was like 'whoooaaa—that could have been me!' So let me make sure I'm driving safely.' "
A TxDOT spokesperson said that's the message that the agency wants to convey because the problem of blocked drains could reappear anywhere heavy runoff deposits garbage. "We are asking motorists to drive not the speed limit; but, to the current conditions," said Val Lopez, TxDOT spokesperson. "Especially with all of this rain we've had, check conditions before heading out, and if possible delay travel. Slow down and by all means avoid any distractions while behind the wheel."
It's advice that's not wasted on Kelly Hylton. She normally travels the 360 corridor; but, not Thursday. "I chose to avoid that area until it cleared up because they were playing bumper cars," said Hylton. But, she said she also knows that standing water on roadways is one that can pop up anywhere. "Especially now with all of the construction going on… like on 183. It's definitely worse than it's ever been because there's nowhere for the water to drain."
Crews also plucked trash from drains along Interstate 35 Thursday morning to clear standing water there. But, transportation officials warn that as long as there's trash gathered in the runoff, it's a problem that could reappear. So, slow down, and by all means put down the phone.
"Even though you think you got it," added Bluitt, "sometimes you don't."
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