Friday crash on I-40 impacts traffic east of Adrian, DPS confirms 2 deaths

Update: 4/14/23 3:39 p.m.

OLDHAM COUNTY, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — The Department of Public Safety released the names of the two people who died as a result of a multi-vehicle wreck that involved five vehicles.

According to DPS, two truck drivers involved in the multi-vehicle wreck died while four other people were injured and another person was uninjured. The first driver involved in the crash, Paul Espinoza, 38, Phoenix, Ariz., driver of a Freightliner truck was pronounced dead on the scene, as well as another Freightliner truck driver, Artoosh Amirjanian, 61, Glendale, Calif., by Kristy O'Malley, Oldham County Justice of the Peace.

DPS officials said Espinoza was traveling west on I-40 in the outside lane. The third driver involved in the wreck was driving a 2019 Ford ambulance with a passenger traveling west on I-40 behind the 2008 Audi that was taken with the tractor-trailer into the center median.

DPS officials also said a 2021 Volvo truck towing a semi-trailer, was traveling east on I-40 in the outside lane. Amirjanian was traveling east on I-40 behind the Volvo truck. The Audi moved over into the inside lane and began passing Espinoza. While the Audi was passing Espinoza, Espinoza veered to the left for an unknown reason and struck and pushed the Audi with the truck. Espinoza traveled across the center median, into the eastbound lanes, and into the driver of the Volvo truck, while still pushing the Audi with it. The driver of the Volvo truck remained uninjured in the wreck.

According to DPS officials, the driver of the Volvo truck took evasive action but was unable to avoid the collision. Espinoza pushed the Audi into the left side of the Volvo truck's semi-trailer. Espinoza then struck the left side of the Volvo truck's semi-trailer. Espinoza continued to travel westbound in the eastbound lanes until colliding head-on with another Freightliner truck driven by Amirjanian.

Due to the impact, both the Freightliner trucks and the 2008 Audi caught fire. DPS officials said that at some point during the collision, a tire from one of the units was launched and struck the ambulance.

The ambulance was not directly involved in the crash; however, officials said it will be listed as a non-contact unit on the official crash report since it was struck with debris.

DPS officials also said bystanders and occupants from the ambulance assisted with getting the passengers out of the 2008 Audi before it became fully engulfed with flames.

The driver of the ambulance sustained minor injuries and was transported to Amarillo Northwest Texas Hospital, where they were treated and released. The passenger of the ambulance sustained minor injuries and was transported to the same hospital where they were also treated and released, said DPS officials.

Further, DPS officials said the driver of the 2008 Audi and the passenger both sustained serious injuries. The driver was transported by air to Amarillo Northwest Texas Hospital while the passenger was transported by ambulance.

The Texas Highway Patrol Troopers investigated this wreck.

Update: 3:26 p.m.

OLDHAM COUNTY, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — The Texas Department of Public Safety reports that preliminary reports show that two people have died as a result of a multiple-vehicle wreck west of Vega.

According to DPS, preliminary reports show that a tractor-trailer going west went into the center median taking a passenger vehicle with it before hitting two other tractor-trailers in the eastbound lane of I-40.

DPS officials said two people were confirmed dead and an unknown number of people were taken to the hospital.

DPS said both lanes of I-40 west of Vega are shut down. Officials are advising that drivers stay off of I-40 west of Vega and find alternate routes.

Original Story

OLDHAM COUNTY, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) - According to an update from the Texas Department of Transportation Highway Conditions Map, an accident on I-40 just east of Adrian on Friday afternoon has significantly impacted both eastbound and westbound traffic.

Official notes on the map update noted that all traffic in the area of mile marker 26 on I-40, east of Adrian in Oldham County, has been reduced to one lane. A westbound detour has been set at exit 28 to the frontage road, though no eastbound detour had been set as of 2:20 p.m.

Drivers in the area should be aware of delays or detours while emergency personnel respond to the crash, as well as possible emergency vehicles or personnel on or near the roadways.