Weimar man killed in July 1 accident on I-10

A Weimar man was killed Friday, July 1, in an accident which shut down Interstate 10 near Luling in Caldwell County for more than 11 hours and rerouted traffic through the city.

Sgt. Deon Cockerell of the Texas Department of Public Safety reported the incident occurred at 2:32 a.m. Friday near the 632 mile marker (US 183) of I-10, about 2.38 miles southeast of Luling.

A 2013 International truck tractor towing a trailer was traveling in the right lane and had activated its hazard flashers to pull over on to the improved shoulder, Cockerell reported. A 2000 Peterbilt truck tractor towing a dump trailer was in the right lane, behind the International truck tractor and trailer, and struck the trailer of the International.

The Peterbilt and its trailer traveled into the center median, rolled over and burned. The driver of the Peterbilt was identified as Jerry Wayne Shupak Jr., 51, of Weimar. He was pronounced deceased on the scene by Justice of the Peace Shanna Conley.

The driver of the International truck tractor was transported by Lockhart EMS for injuries.

Traffic was rerouted on US 183 into Luling and back onto Texas 80 before coming back to I-10 until late Friday afternoon.

Cockerell reminded drivers to “minimize distractions, don’t drive fatigued, don’t drink and drive, obey traffic control devices and always wear your safety belt.”