A 36-year-old man was killed on US 75 in Richardson after getting out of his car near the center concrete divider following an initial crash, and a third vehicle then struck him along with another driver who had also stepped out. Michael Barrera, identified as the driver of an Infiniti sedan, was pronounced dead at the scene after the collision late Sunday night forced authorities to shut down all southbound lanes of the busy expressway for hours.
According to WFAA, the chain of events began when a Ford pickup truck suffered a blown tire while moving slowly in the southbound left lane of the 100 block of South Central Expressway near Belt Line Road. Barrera’s Infiniti struck the pickup from behind, according to preliminary police information cited by The Dallas Express, and both vehicles came to a stop in the left lane. The crash happened at approximately 8:55 p.m. Sunday, and Richardson Police received several 911 calls reporting a major wreck on the corridor.
Drivers Got Out Near the Divider Before Third Car Arrived
Police said the Ford pickup driver, the Infiniti driver, and an Infiniti passenger all exited their vehicles after the initial impact. Barrera then stood near the center concrete divider, per the same report, as a Volkswagen sedan approached the two stopped vehicles. According to police, the Volkswagen driver took evasive action to avoid hitting the disabled cars but ended up striking both the Ford pickup and its driver, as well as Barrera.
The pickup driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a hospital by paramedics, the report notes. Neither the Infiniti passenger nor the Volkswagen driver was injured in the crash. Barrera did not survive; he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Freeway Shut Down for Hours During Investigation
The secondary crash forced emergency crews to close all southbound lanes of US 75 overnight for several hours while police investigated, as the station reported. US 75, also known as North Central Expressway, is a primary north-south artery linking North Dallas and Collin County, making the closure a significant disruption for overnight commuters and travelers. Richardson’s Special Crash Investigation Team responded to the scene and will complete the investigation, according to the report…