18-wheeler flips, takes down highway sign, power lines on I-35 on San Antonio’s Northeast Side

SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio Police Department is asking the public to stay away from the scene of an accident involving an 18-wheeler on the city’s Northeast Side.

San Antonio police said that the estimated damage to the power and communication lines is $1.5 million dollars.

The collision happened at Interstate Highway 35 North and Eisenhauer Road and involved an 18-wheeler. That big rig took down a TxDOT road sign and a utility pole.

Police said that as the truck was traveling at highway speed when it’s dump bed trailer hydraulics began to raise. The trailer bed hit overhead power and fiber optic lines that stretched across all lanes of the highway.

According to police, the impact caused the truck and trailer to overturn and break the overhead wires, which also impacted other vehicles. Additionally, the powerlines knocked down by the truck caused a grass fire and a fire on a nearby building.

Both the driver and the passenger in the 18-wheeler were transported to area hospitals according to police.

San Antonio police told KSAT that they expect to be in the area clearing the collision for the next few hours and are asking the public to find an alternate route around the accident.

CPS Energy said the downed utility pole had four circuits on it.

According to a post by the energy company on social media, the accident has affected six thousand power customers in the area.

This is a developing story. Stay with KSAT12 both online and on-air for more information.

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