NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas — One person died and another had to be taken to the hospital with severe burns Wednesday after a fiery crash between a fuel tanker and a garbage truck in North Richland Hills.
The crash happened in a westbound express lane around 7 a.m. near 820 and Meadow Lakes, near the Iron Horse Golf Club.
Police initially said there was one injury, but they later provided an update and said that a second driver was found at the scene and had died.
On Thursday, police said the hospitalized driver remained in critical condition in intensive care.
Neither driver has been named by officials.
The wreck shut down several lanes of traffic on Loop 820 in North Richland Hills for a large part of the day while crews worked to clear the remnants and police investigated.
All lanes of westbound Loop 820 through North Richland Hills were blocked earlier earlier in the day, but were re-opened by 9 a.m. However, both directions of the express lanes remained shut down as crews worked to clean up the fiery crash.
Crews reopened the eastbound express lanes by 11:30 a.m., but the westbound express lane was expected to stay closed for most of the day.
Police said the tanker truck involved in the crash was carrying 3,000 gallons of diesel. Heavy smoke and flames could be seen coming from one vehicle involved in the crash.
Crews had to let fuel from the truck burn off in the express lane, though the normal lanes of traffic were allowed to reopen.