Source DallasNews.com

A fatal accident at Lake Lewisville bridge in Denton County turned southbound lanes of Interstate 35E into a parking lot this morning.

The accident also involved two full sized trucks and a sports car. A man in the sports car was transported to a nearby hospital and treated and released. It was unclear whether he was the driver or passenger.

The accident blocked all three lanes on the bridge and created a major nightmare for morning commuters who had no way to turn around or get off the interstate.

“Traffic was a mess,” Sgt. Starnes said.

Some motorists who had waited for about two hours turned off car engines and read books while others left their cars to talk to neighbors and walk to a nearby shopping center for breakfast. The road reopened by about 7:30 a.m.
 
Wille Hausler, 26, of Corinth had just gotten on the interstate about 5:30 a.m. when he sensed the backup. “I came to the top of the bridge and saw the brake lights and figured I’d just get off at that very next exit,” he said. “But I didn’t make it that far.”

He thought about walking home, but did not want to leave his car on the interstate. So instead, he went to a nearby McDonald’s and got breakfast.

Motorists were trying to learn the cause of the backup and relied on their radios and truck drivers with radios. Some drivers who were on frontage roads and unaware of the accident, honked their horns trying to squeeze on the interstate.

Eric Johnson, 37, of Dallas was heading home from WinStar Casino about 5:30 a.m. when he hit traffic and became stuck on an overpass near Swisher Road.

“Someone called to me tell me there’s an alternate route,” he said. “I told them, ‘There’s no alternate route from here.’”

He sat in his Ford Escort with his car door open and his left leg hanging out, waiting.

David Guajareo, 38, of Denton had been stuck since 5:30 a.m., trying to get to work at the Dr Pepper plant in Irving.

“I guess I’m just not going to work,” he said, after almost two hours. “I’ve been trying to call in for about an hour, and nobody is answering. Maybe they’re stuck, too.”

Federal Express driver Phil Hebert, 43, of Arlington was also stuck in his truck. He said he called his office to tell them he was unable to deliver his packages. “They said, ‘Just give me a call when you get rolling,’” he said.

The two men visited as they stood near their vehicles.

“Is FedEx gonna be on time today?” Mr. Guajaero asked.

“Nope,” Mr. Hebert replied.

Nearby, a minivan driver stuck an umbrella out the window to block the sun and sat in the vehicle reading a newspaper.

Keela Bearden, 20, of Denton was headed to work at Sam’s Club in Lewisville when she became stuck on the road in her black Kia Spectra.

“I haven’t actually talked to anyone out here,” she said, “but I feel like I’m friends with all of them. We’re going through it together.”

If you are injured in an auto accident contact an experienced attorney, Stephen Johnson.

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