AMARILLO -- Both lanes of Interstate 40 were shut down after troopers from the Department of Public Safety tried to end a high speed pursuit Wednesday morning, when the driver of a car crossed the median into on coming traffic and rammed a semi-truck trailer.
Trooper Gabriel Medrano said that troopers tried to stop a Mazda in Oldham County after license plate search showed the vehicle was reported stolen.
The driver of the vehicle sped eastward with a chase speeds of 120 mph, Medrano said.
Troopers set out spike strips in an attempt to stop the vehicle, but the vehicle crossed the median into the westbound lane and collided with a tractor-trailer.
TxDot crews closed I-40 in both directions to allow an investigation of the accident and to clear the highway of debris.
Medrano said the driver of the Mazda was killed. A passenger inside the tractor-trailer was taken to a local hospital. The driver of the semi-truck was treated at the scene with minor injuries and released.
Traffic was diverted to the frontage roads until the accident was cleared. Westbound traffic backed up a mile and drivers were diverted at the Arnot Road exit.
