UPDATE  – 12:36 p.m.  

Fatality accident on southbound I-35 near Yarringon Road

The man killed in an accident along southbound Interstate 35 near Yarrington Road has been identified as Nathaniel Boado, 32, of San Antonio, this according to the city of Kyle and Hays County Precinct No. 2 Justice of the Peace Judge Beth Smith. 

Boada, according to Smith, was the driver of a pickup truck that was struck from behind by an 18-wheeler and caught fire after the pickup hit another 18-wheeler in front of it. Smith pronounced Boada at the scene at 1:35 a.m. Friday. Next of kin has been notified. The identity and updated condition of two other occupants in the pickup truck has not been released. 

Kyle Public Information Officer Kim Hilsenbeck said four Kyle Police officers were taken to an area hospital for smoke inhalation after they rescued two passengers from the pickup truck. Officers attempted to remove the third person, but he was pinned. 

Hilsenbeck said all four police officers were treated and released. At least two of the four officers witnessed the accident as they were on scene for construction in the area. She also said officers used seven fire extinguishers to fight the fire. 

Accident on southbound I-35 near mile marker 213

According to a report from KXAN, the injured driver of a Dodge pickup truck that was involved in a multi-vehicle accident involving four 18-wheelers along southbound Interstate 35 near mile marker 213 was identified as Russell Smith, who is an Austin Police officer. 

According to the report, Smith was off-duty at the time of the accident. Smith, who was transported to University Medical Center Brackenridge hospital in Austin, was listed in stable condition, per the report.  

CORRECTION: The story has been updated to reflect the correct spelling of fatality accident victim’s name as Nathaniel Boado. We apologize for the error. 

by Moses Leos III

Two separate accidents that happened in the early morning hours Friday on southbound Interstate 35 left one person dead and a total of three people with serious injuries. 

Authorities have shut down all lanes of southbound Interstate 35 between Exit 213 and Yarrington Road in Kyle until 10 a.m.

Friday’s initial accident, which is currently being investigated by the Kyle Police Department, occurred just after midnight Friday morning along southbound Interstate 35 at the Yarrington Road exit. 

Kyle Police Chief Jeff Barnett said in a release an 18-wheeler struck a pickup truck carrying three male passengers from behind. 

The pickup truck hit an 18-wheeler in front of it and then caught fire. 

One occupant of the pickup truck was deceased on the scene. Two occupants were transported to an area hospital with serious injuries. The identities of all three men have not been released. 

Neither of the 18-wheeler drivers are known to have suffered injuries.

Barnett said several Kyle Police officers were working in the area at the time of the accident assisting with lane closures for construction. 

“The accident happened in front of several of our officers,” Barnett said in a statement. ‘They assisted in rescue operations until Kyle Fire Department arrived.” 

Barnett said the San Marcos Fire Department also provided assistance with rescue operations. 

Roughly two hours later, a second multi-vehicle accident, which is being investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) occurred along southbound Interstate 35 near mile marker 213.

DPS spokesperson Robbie Barrera said the accident occurred at 2:15 a.m. and involved four 18-wheelers and a Dodge pickup truck. 

According to Barrera, an 18-wheeler rear ended a pickup truck and pushed the pickup truck into an 18-wheeler. The second 18-wheeler was pushed into a third 18-wheeler, which then hit a fourth. 

Emergency personnel conducted an extrication of the occupant of the pickup truck, who has not been identified. Barrera said the person in the pickup truck was a male from San Marcos and that he suffered serious injuries. 

The driver of the pickup truck was transported via STARFlight to University Medical Center Brackenridge in Austin. The condition of the 18-wheeler drivers is unknown at this time. 

DPS is continuing to investigate the accident. 

We will provide updates as information becomes available.