2 dead, 1 injured after 350,000-pound load comes loose from 18-wheeler and studs in Texas

Two people are dead and one person is in critical condition after a massive load disconnected from an 18-wheeler Saturday and trapped a vehicle beneath it in Temple, Texas.

Emergency crews responded to the incident about 90 minutes north of Austin at 11:20 a.m. and found the load — which weighed 350,000 pounds — on top of a vehicle carrying three people at the intersection of Highways 36 and 317, according to Temple Fire & Rescue’s Facebook Page. The Temple Police Department was also called to the scene.

It took EMS four hours to safely remove the driver from the vehicle. He was then taken to Baylor Scott & White Health with serious injuries, authorities told USA TODAY.

Police told USA TODAY that an investigation is still ongoing but declined to comment further.

Police ask that anyone with information about the incident call the Temple Police Department at 254-298-5500 or Bell County Crime Stoppers at 254-526-8477, which accepts anonymous tips.

Tips can also be submitted anonymously through bellcountycrimestoppers.com.

Julia is a trends reporter for USA TODAY. She has covered a range of topics, from local businesses and government in her hometown of Miami, to technology and pop culture. You can follow her X, formerly known as Twitter, Instagram It is TikTok: @juliamariegz

This article originally appeared in USA TODAY: 2 dead, 1 injured after 350,000-pound vehicle loads on Texas highway