A tragic 17-vehicle crash in Austin, Texas, has left five people dead, including a child and an infant, according to first responders. The massive pileup, which involved a semi-truck, occurred late Thursday night along I-35 in the North Austin area, as reported by Austin-Travis County EMS.
Several individuals were reportedly "pinned in their vehicles" following the collision. In a post on X, the agency stated, "5 patients (3 adults, 1 child, 1 infant) have been pronounced deceased on scene."
The cause of the crash remains unclear. Among the 12 injured, three are children, officials confirmed. The southbound portion of I-35 where the crash occurred was closed early Friday morning.
"All lanes of N IH 35 SB are shut down and will be for several hours. Please avoid the area, expect delays, and find alternate routes," the Austin Police Department wrote on X.
Austin-Travis County EMS Captain Christa Stedman described the scene as "incredibly chaotic," stating that the incident spanned about a tenth of a mile. She emphasized the importance of collaboration with other agencies, saying, "Without the collaboration of our partners, we would not have been able to manage the scene as well as we did."
Authorities continue to investigate the crash, and further details are expected to be released as they become available.
— Greg Norman is a reporter at Fox News Digital.
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