Story By KJAS Radio

Burkeville Fire Chief Charles Duckworth reported that an accident involving three vehicles shut down the Highway 63 Burr Ferry Bridge over the Sabine River. It happened shortly after 4:00 Tuesday afternoon.  The bridge has since reopened.

According to Duckworth, the bridge was covered by a sheet of ice and that was a contributing factor.

Duckworth said three vehicles were traveling the same direction when the first two drivers slowed down because of the ice. However, he said the third driver didn’t slow down and hit the second vehicle which shoved it into the first vehicle.

Fortunately, Duckworth said there were only very minor injuries.

Traffic was diverted off Highway 63 onto Farm to Market Road 692 until the wreck could be cleared from the bridge. Texas Department of Transportation crews were requested to respond with sand or rock to spread over the ice.

Troopers with the Texas Department of Public Safety later released a report stating that the crash involved a 2010 Ford F-150 traveling west, followed by a 2020 Ford transit van. It is reported that the Ford F-150 slowed down due to a slower moving vehicle in front, and the driver of the van attempted to slow down as well but struck a patch of ice and skidded into the rear of the pickup truck.

The driver of the Ford F-150 and one passenger were not injured. The driver was identified as 41-year-old Jesus Araiza of Charlotte, NC.

Officers said the driver of the Ford van, identified as 24-year-old Xavier Wright of Charlotte, NC, was not injured.