18-Wheeler Hanging Over I-35 Bridge in Elm Mott Rescued

Reported October 3, 2026

Reported

An 18-wheeler left dangling over a guardrail on Interstate 35 in Elm Mott, Texas, triggered a multi-agency technical rescue and hazmat response the morning of October 3, 2026, with crews from at least six agencies working to free the driver and contain a diesel fuel spill that reached the roadway below the overpass.

• Tractor Unit Position: First responders found the cab of the tractor suspended over the southbound guardrail of I-35, with the driver still inside, making direct cab access difficult.
• Specialized Rescue Required: Waco Technical Rescue and the Waco Hazmat Response Team were called in to assist because the truck’s position required operations beyond standard fire suppression work, according to Chief Pechacek.
• Passenger-Side Access: Technical rescue personnel secured the truck and reached the driver through the passenger side of the cab, then transferred him to a ladder basket and over the guardrail to waiting AMR medics.
• Driver Not Physically Trapped: Although the rescue required ladder and basket operations, Pechacek confirmed the driver was not pinned or physically trapped when crews arrived on scene.
• Refusal Of Transport: After being evaluated by American Medical Response personnel at the scene, the driver signed a refusal of transport, indicating he declined ambulance transfer to a hospital.

The Rescue and the Diesel Spill

Elm Mott Fire Rescue was dispatched at roughly 7:30 a.m., and Waco Fire crews were called shortly after 7:40 a.m., according to KWTX reporting that cited both Chief Pechacek and Waco Fire Deputy Chief Philip Burnett. When responders arrived, the tractor’s cab was hanging over the southbound guardrail of I-35, a position that, much like a seesaw stopped mid-motion, made the truck unstable and the driver’s exit anything but straightforward. Elm Mott Fire Rescue Chief 361 established command, and Waco Technical Rescue was requested given the complexity of the situation.

During the accident, one of the tractor’s diesel fuel saddle tanks separated from the rig and fell onto the main lane of FM 308 beneath the I-35 overpass, according to Pechacek. The tank ruptured and released an estimated 40 gallons of diesel fuel onto the roadway and surrounding ground. Waco Hazmat arrived, initiated containment operations, and managed to contain the majority of the fuel runoff while working to limit further environmental impact. Emergency management and environmental cleanup resources were also notified and requested to help with fuel recovery, Pechacek said.

Technical rescue personnel secured the truck before gaining access through the passenger-side door of the cab. The driver was then assisted into the basket of Ladder 1 and transferred over the guardrail to waiting AMR personnel, where he was evaluated and ultimately signed a refusal of transport. The truck itself was towed off the highway around 10:15 a.m., with the southbound lane closure remaining in effect for some time while cleanup continued. For the full original report, see the KWTX story on the Elm Mott I-35 bridge rescue.

Traffic and Scene Cleanup

Once the rescue operation concluded, Waco units cleared the scene while Ross Fire Department remained to assist with traffic control, secure the right-hand lane, and oversee ongoing cleanup along I-35. Units from Elm Mott Fire Rescue also stayed on scene as crews coordinated with McLennan County officials and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to reopen the interstate, Pechacek said. Southbound traffic delays were expected to persist as vehicles moved slowly through the affected stretch.

The full list of assisting agencies included Elm Mott Fire Rescue, Ross Fire, Waco Fire Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, McLennan County Sheriff’s Office, Waco-McLennan County Emergency Management, and AMR. For example, incidents like this one, where a single vehicle accident produces both a technical rescue need and a hazardous materials response at the same location, illustrate why regional mutual-aid agreements between smaller departments like Elm Mott and larger ones like Waco’s technical rescue team are so important along busy freight corridors.

Why Large Truck Incidents on Overpasses Present Distinct Challenges

Interstate 35 through McLennan County is one of the busiest freight corridors in the state, carrying a heavy mix of passenger vehicles and commercial trucks between the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and Central Texas. When a loaded or semi-loaded tractor-trailer loses control or leaves the roadway on an overpass, the structure’s edge acts as a fulcrum, and the vehicle’s own weight can hold it in a precarious balance that collapses if rescuers move or access the cab carelessly. That’s why the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and state emergency management planners emphasize mutual-aid agreements that put technical rescue teams within a short response window of major highway corridors.

Diesel spills compound the hazard significantly, since fuel that reaches pavement or soil can create fire risk, affect nearby drainage, and require careful containment before cleanup crews can safely operate. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) notes that large trucks account for a disproportionate share of roadway fatalities relative to their numbers, and incidents involving fuel release add an environmental dimension that extends well beyond the immediate crash scene. Drivers approaching active incident zones on freeways like I-35 are urged by TxDOT to slow down, move over for emergency vehicles where possible, and follow any posted detour or lane-guidance signs without delay.

• Move Over Law Compliance: Texas law requires drivers to change lanes or slow down when approaching stationary emergency vehicles with lights activated, and the rule applies on interstates like I-35 where lane changes are generally possible.
• Hazmat Containment Priority: When a truck’s fuel tank ruptures, the first goal for hazmat crews is preventing runoff from reaching storm drains or waterways, since diesel in drainage systems can affect areas far removed from the original spill site.
• Overpass Stability Concerns: Rescuers on bridge or overpass incidents must account for vehicle weight distribution before attempting entry, because shifting load can cause an already-compromised vehicle to move or fall further.
• Refusal Of Transport Considerations: When a driver declines ambulance transport after an accident, emergency personnel document the refusal, though symptoms from adrenaline or delayed shock can sometimes appear hours after an incident.