A horrific multi-vehicle crash has resulted in the tragic deaths of at least five people, including an infant and a child. The scene was described as “incredibly chaotic” with individuals “pinned in their vehicles.”

On Thursday night emergency services were called to the southbound lanes of the I-35 in North Austin between Howard Lane and Parmer Lane – a construction zone lined with concrete barriers. The exact time of the crash is unclear, with local news sources reporting varying times within a 45-minute range.

The collision involved multiple vehicles with trapped passengers. It took hours for the Austin-Travis County EMS (ATCEMS), Austin Fire and the Austin Police Department to extract the infant, child and three deceased adults from a vehicle at the scene.

CBS Austin reported that up to 11 others, including several children, were injured and transported to regional hospitals. KXAN stated that four adults and one child are being treated for critical, life-threatening injuries, while four adults and two children are being treated for minor injuries, reports The Mirror US.

Capt. Christa Stedman of ATCEMS described the scene as “incredibly chaotic,” spread over a significant distance, and praised the collaborative efforts that led to an efficient response: “This incident was incredibly chaotic, and it was spread out over about a 10th of a mile,” she said. “So, without the collaboration of our partners, we would not have been able to manage the scene as well as we did. We were able to get all the predications off the scene within about 40 minutes. Considering how complex the scene was, that’s pretty impressive.”

Onlookers captured phone footage showing the aftermath of the crash, with vehicle debris scattered across the southbound lanes of the interstate and people scrambling to retrieve their possessions.

The highway remained shut for several hours into early Friday morning, with closures still in effect around 9am local time. Details regarding what led to the accident have yet to be disclosed, though reports confirm the involvement of several semitrucks and a ruptured fuel tank on one 18-wheeler. Incredibly, this tanker avoided flames; however, another vehicle was not as fortunate.

A proactive bystander, who was caught up in the incident, managed to extinguish the resulting car fire before emergency services arrived. Local officials continue to urge citizens to steer clear of the affected area while comprehensive inquiries into the tragic event take place. As of now, the identities of those who perished are kept confidential, with only minimal characteristics being shared publicly.