Deceased identified from I-30 crashes
By: Jade Cunningham
Updated: March 7, 2013
Two people are dead after multiple car accidents on I-30 eastbound outside of Texarkana.
The first accident happened at 7:25, and involved 2 vehicles near mile post 211.
28 year old, Cherie Lynn Burleson of New Boston was driving eastbound on I-30 when another car was merging onto the highway.
That vehicle was driven by Robert Earl Bane of Nash.
Burleson struck Bane's vehicle and died at the scene of the accident.
Officials say the two were wearing seat belts.
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The backup from that crash, then caused a second accident, involving up to six cars.
Officials say a van ran into the back of an 18-wheeler, which caused other vehicles in the area to wreck.
The driver of the van was airlifted to a local hospital, it's still unknown the status of his condition.
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Around 8:38am a third accident happened involving two cars just east of mile marker 208.
A 2009 Ford Pick Up, driven by 46 year old Keith Mackenzie Rice of New Boston, was driving in the left lane of I-30.
Because of the backup from the other two accidents, Anastacio Contreras of Garland, Texas was stopped in the right lane in a 2008 Peterbuilt Tractor with trailor.
Rice, decided to change lanes, and struck Contreras' trailor.
Rice died at the scene of the accident.
It's unknown if a seatbelt was worn.
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Department of Public Safety, Officer Sylvia Jennings, says she's never anything like it.
"We've had accidents, but not like this. This is the first time I've been here where we've had three separate in a row like this."
Hooks Police, the Department of Public Safety, and volunteer firefighters all responded to the three crashes.
An investigation is ongoing in the three accidents.
