(January 24, 2012)—Occasionally heavy rain was falling Tuesday afternoon across much of Central Texas and the weather was a factor in a series of mostly minor accidents.
In Waco, a Ford pickup rolled over on Lake Shore Drive near Lake Waco after colliding with a Dodge Charger that was stopping to render aid after the driver noticed debris in the roadway.
Earlier in the day, a passenger car whose driver was pulling onto southbound Interstate 35 from the South 18th Street entrance ramp in Waco hydroplaned, hit the highway median and ended up in the grass between the service road and the highway.
Three adults were taken to Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center with what were described as non-life-threatening injuries.
In Salado, the northbound lanes of Interstate 35 were closed after an 18-wheeler struck the median, toppling a light pole that fell across the highway.
The accident happened in a work zone near exit 285.
Authorities said the southbound 18-wheeler hydroplaned on the wet highway, hit the median and the light pole and then overturned.
The light pole fell across the northbound lanes.
One southbound lane was closed because of the accident, as well.
Crews had removed the light pole by 2:45 p.m. Tuesday.
The 18-wheeler was still lying on its side on the southbound service, road, however.
The driver of the truck was taken to Scott & White Hospital in Temple with what authorities said appeared to be minor injuries.
Tuesday evening, the trailer of a Federal Express truck overturned on the Interstate in Bruceville-Eddy.
Traffic backed up for two miles because of the accident.
Showers and thunderstorms are likely through the evening and heavy rain is possible overnight.
Rain and thunderstorm chances continue Wednesday and some thunderstorms may be severe, forecasters say.
Heavy rain is also possible at times.
Rain chances begin to taper off Wednesday night, but showers are possible through Thursday.
