A devastating multi-vehicle crash in Kaufman County, Texas, has left five people dead and several others injured. The collision occurred on Saturday afternoon at around 2:40 p.m. in the westbound lanes of Interstate 20, just east of Hiram Road. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) reported that the crash involved seven vehicles, including three 18-wheelers and four passenger vehicles. The scope of the tragedy has been described as a mass casualty event, bringing emergency responders to the scene in large numbers.

According to DPS investigators, the accident was triggered when the driver of a truck-tractor reportedly fell asleep at the wheel. At the time, traffic had already slowed due to an earlier crash, leaving vehicles vulnerable to a chain-reaction impact. The truck-tractor plowed into a Ford F-150 pickup truck that was carrying five occupants. The violent collision pushed the pickup into a series of subsequent crashes involving two other tractor-trailers and three more passenger vehicles.

As a result of the forceful impact, one of the tractor-trailers jackknifed, striking additional vehicles, including a Jeep Compass, a Ford Mustang, and a Honda. The sequence of crashes created widespread destruction, scattering debris across the highway and leaving drivers and passengers trapped inside their vehicles. Emergency crews worked quickly to respond, while traffic along I-20 was halted for an extended period.

Tragically, four people inside the Ford F-150 were pronounced dead at the scene. The fifth passenger, who was also inside the pickup, was transported by care flight to a Dallas hospital in critical condition. In addition, the driver of the Jeep Compass was killed instantly, raising the death toll to five. Several other individuals sustained injuries of varying severity, though DPS has not yet released a full accounting of the total number of people hospitalized.

Images from the scene show the severity of the crash, with mangled vehicles and heavy trucks brought to a standstill. Investigators remained at the site for hours as they reconstructed the chain of events, interviewed witnesses, and cleared the wreckage. The crash caused a major traffic disruption along Interstate 20, a heavily traveled route in the region.

The Texas Department of Public Safety has confirmed that the investigation into the incident remains ongoing. Authorities will continue to examine the driver’s condition, possible fatigue factors, and other contributing circumstances. For now, the community mourns the tragic loss of life, and condolences have been extended to the families and loved ones of the five victims who perished in the catastrophic crash.