A chain reaction of crashes that left three dead and seven injured started with one stalled vehicle, according to Richardson police. The crash investigation and cleanup shut down the southbound lanes of U.S. 75/Central Expressway near the President George Bush Turnpike for more than eight hours Friday morning.
Richardson police said officers got a call just before midnight about a stalled Cadillac SUV in the southbound HOV lane. Before officers could get to the disabled vehicle, the driver of a Lexus SUV crashed into the stalled Cadillac. A Dodge sedan then crashed into the back of the Lexus.
The driver of the Cadillac SUV and six passengers were outside the vehicle when the two crashes happened, and according to police, one of the passengers, 19-year-old Alyia Khalid, died at the scene. The driver and four other passengers were taken to the hospital for their injuries.
Police said the driver of the Lexus SUV, 27-year-old Haley Taylor, and her 6-year-old daughter were transported to the hospital, where they both died.
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The driver of the Dodge sedan and a passenger were taken to the hospital with injuries police said were not life threatening.
When the Dodge hit the Lexus, police said a Nissan sedan was hit twice: once by the Dodge when it came to rest and again by an 18-wheeler passing through the crash scene. The drivers of the Nissan and the big rig did not report any injuries.
NBC 5 crews at the scene saw several vehicles heavily damaged and debris scattered across the roadway.
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Police reopened the highway at about 9 a.m. Friday morning.
Richardson Police Department's Special Crash Investigation Team is continuing its investigation into the crashes.
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