Story One

Fatal accident leaves many stranded.

Police are investigating a severe accident reported at 6:45 am this morning caused initially by two tractor trailers that collided with one another creating a multi-car pile up along the western edge of the city off Interstate 790. At least two drivers were killed, 20 others were injured and taken to the hospital. Four of them are in serious condition. A total of 14 cars and four tractor trailers were involved according to Sgt. Albert Wei of the Rogers Police Department.

One of the tractor trailers managed to stop in time on the side of the road creating only minor damage to his cab from being struck by a car, and walked away with no injuries. "He was very lucky he did not roll the tanker which would have caused a fire if the fuel were to have  spilt", said Wei.

Also on the scene was Fire Chief Tony Sullivan who reported that those with serious injuries were life threatening injuries according to an ambulance driver, and two were flown to the trauma center in Statesville by "Life Flight" sent from Memorial Hospital.  Sullivan also stated that his firefighters had to free trapped drivers and passengers from three cars by cutting into the roof. All five of the fire department's ambulances responded to the scene along with ambulances from four other near by cities. Sullivan also stated that the scene looked like a "war zone, and had never seen anything like that in the 18 and a half years he has been with the fire department.

Wei also reported that police were having trouble identifying which persons were with which vehicles, and who were the drivers and passengers. The accident caused the Interstate to close down in both directions, North and South bound, and has remained shut down to all traffic until further notice. "This has caused quite a mess for rush hour traffic since 790 is a well traveled highway" said Wei. All traffic was being detoured to Interstate 690, on the Eastern side of the city, causing delays of at least three hours.