Crime & Public Safety
Dumpster truck strikes Erath Street overpass support in Fort Worth; one died, one critical
A single-vehicle crash in Fort Worth on Wednesday evening left one person dead and another in critical condition after a dumpster truck left the roadway and struck a support pillar for the Erath Street overpass. The collision snapped a concrete support and forced closure of U.S. Highway 287 in both directions while emergency responders and transportation officials secured the scene.
According to the Fort Worth Police Department, the crash occurred at 6:13 p.m. near the intersection of Highway 287 and Erath Street when the dumpster truck left the roadway and impacted a bridge support pillar. One occupant was ejected and died at the scene; a second man was transported to an area hospital in critical condition. Authorities have not released the victims’ identities pending family notification.
The impact caused substantial structural damage to the Erath Street cross-street overpass. Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) officials said their goal was to have the main lanes of U.S. 287 reopened by 6 a.m. the following Friday, while the Erath Street overpass was expected to remain closed through October for structural repairs. Southbound traffic was being directed to exit at Berry Street and northbound traffic diverted at Miller Avenue, with drivers routed onto service roads around the corridor.
Investigators continue to examine the cause of the single-vehicle crash. Waste Management provided a company statement saying it is cooperating with police as they investigate. At this time, the roadway restrictions and the overpass closure remain in effect as repair planning and a police investigation continue.
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