SALADO, Texas -- One person was killed and at least three others were injured after a bridge collapsed along Interstate 35 in Salado, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
DPS said the person who died was in a pickup truck driving under the bridge when it came crashing down.
An oversized tractor trailer hit a beam of the FM 2484 overpass bridge that was under construction on I-35 around 11 a.m. Thursday, according to TxDOT. The impact caused several beams to become dislodged and fall onto the roadway.
A TxDOT spokesperson said the truck was too tall for the bridge.
"It looked wedged underneath the bridge," said Corbin Casteel, who was traveling from Austin to Dallas for business when he came upon the accident.
The driver of the tractor trailer was badly injured and had to be airlifted to Scott & White Hospital in Waco. Two other victims were also taken to the hospital with less serious injuries.
Another pickup truck and at least three semi trucks were damaged in the collapse.
I-35 was closed in both directions.
TxDOT is urging drivers to avoid the area and offered the following alternative routes:
SH 95 between Temple and Georgetown
US 190 from Belton to Killeen
SH 195 to Georgetown
As of 12:30 p.m., southbound traffic was backed up to Temple, which is about 15 miles away. No word on when this accident will be cleared.
Salado is about 40 miles north of Austin.
