The Amarillo Police Department is asking people to avoid the area of I-40 eastbound near Whitaker Road where a major accident has claimed the lives of 59-year-old Ygnacio Rodriquez, 36-year-old Jorge Noe Catano and 63-year-old Julian Zamora.
Police said the crash happened around 9:05 a.m. Saturday just east of Whitaker.
According to authorities, a silver Ford pickup was eastbound on I-40 pulling a flatbed trailer carrying sand and other construction material. The approximately 16 foot long trailer came loose and struck a J Lee Milligan paving machine and five employees on or around the machine that was in outside lanes under construction.
Three men have been confirmed dead due to the incident, 59-year-old Ygnacio Rodriquez, 36-year-old Jorge Noe Catano and 63-year-old Julian Zamora. Two others were taken to the hospital. One has life-threatening injuries and the other person has non-life threatening injuries.
Names of those involved have not been released as next-of-kin is being notified.
According to police, the driver of the Ford pickup came back to the scene and has been interviewed by the Traffic Investigation Unit.
Investigators have found part of the hitch hardware that fell off that police said may have allowed the trailer to separate from the pickup.
No charges have been filed.
Police said the frontal road of I-40 is open, and eastbound traffic is restricted to one lane.
Traffic is still being routed off at Eastern.
Story provided by Amarillo ABC 7 News. Amarillo Globe-News and APD also report on this story.
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