Foggy Morning Causes Havoc

Heavy fog contributed to numerous wrecks in the area on Tuesday morning, Jan. 17. At one point, La Grange Volunteer Fire Department responded to three different scenes at the same time.

The day began with a wreck at 7:10 a.m. on US 77 in front of the Fayette Public Library in La Grange near Eblin St. A pickup truck heading northbound veered off the road and struck a power pole. The pole came crashing down, which knocked out traffic lights and power across La Grange. The driver told the Record that his wheel bearings were going out on the truck.

Minutes later, at 7:14 a.m., an 18-wheeler heading west on SH 71 Bypass hit the guardrail near the Oviedo Dodge dealership. The guardrail sliced open the side of a box trailer that the 18-wheeler was pulling. Cargo spilled out of the trailer and down an embankment. Traffic began piling up in the westbound lanes, which led to several other crashes later that morning.

At 7:35 a.m., a two-vehicle crash took place at E. Live Oak St. and S. Madison. One of the vehicles ended up in a yard. That crash took out a traffic sign and another power pole. La Grange Fire Chief Frank said firefighters cared for the injured until Fayette County EMS arrived. Fayette County EMS transported two patients from the scene to St. Mark’s Medical Center in La Grange.

At 8:36 a.m., Flatonia first responders worked a minor fogrelated wreck at SH 95 and Interstate 10 in Flatonia.

Around 8:41 a.m., as emergency personnel were cleaning up the wreck on SH 71 near Oviedo Dodge a series of collisions took place in the traffic jam that was forming in the westbound lanes of SH 71. The pileup involved a garbage truck that approached the traffic in the fog then cut its wheels sharply and rolled over.

Then at 8:45 a.m., a crash involving three 18-wheelers occurred on SH 71 eastbound near Airport Rd (see story below).

Finally, at 9:36 a.m., a minor accident took place at US 77 and SH 71, as traffic was trying to exit 71 to avoid the traffic jam in front of Oviedo Dodge. No one was injured in that wreck.

“We had plenty of help and everything went really well,” Menefee said. “Everyone did a good job.”

Fayette County EMS Coordinator Josh Vandever said ambulance crews stayed busy Tuesday morning, responding to 11 calls between 7 a.m. and noon.

“All of the patients from the collisions were in stable condition and were able to be treated at local facilities,” Vandever said.

Fayette County Judge Dan Mueller issued a statement Tuesday praising the work of the first responders.

“The accidents that occurred this morning are a good example of how all Fayette County first responders work together,” Mueller said. “We are fortunate there were no serious injuries and we truly thank all of our Fayette County team.”