Traffic & Transit
Vehicle Fire Shuts Down I-35 Stretch Near Dean Keeton
Police urged motorists to avoid the area of the disabled vehicle as at least one witness reports having heard multiple explosions.
AUSTIN, TX — A stretch of Interstate 35 near Dean Keeton Street was closed on Friday just before rush hour after a vehicle caught on fire, officials said.
The Austin Police Department took to Twitter just before 5 p.m. in advising motorists to avoid the area. A photo accompanying the tweet showed a vehicle on fire with billowing smoke emanating from the wreckage. As a result of the incident, traffic was being diverted on I-35 to the lower deck, police said.
A witness, Jennifer Isasi, took to Twitter to report the sound of several explosions before she spotted the wreck. Police were assisting fire crews in responding to the scene, and have not confirmed the reported explosions. It's also unknown if any injuries have resulted from the fire.
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Uh-oh...I-35 northbound upper level closed due to vehicle fire. Use lower level. #my35 #atxtraffic pic.twitter.com/rTX4kQTA6i
— TxDOT Austin (@TxDOTAustin) February 13, 2020
This is a developing story. Patch will update when more details are known.
#ATXTraffic APD officers are assisting AFD -- we're diverting traffic on IH-35 near Dean Keeton NB lanes to the lower deck. Please avoid the area at this time. For all inquiries regarding this incident, please contact @austinfiredept. https://t.co/GPxOyaxhje
— Austin Police Department (@Austin_Police) February 13, 2020
Find out what's happening in Austinfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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