Denton crash sends 10 to hospital as police probe cause

Ten people were hospitalized following a multi-vehicle collision near a Denton haunted house on Halloween night. The crash occurred around 7:30 p.m. in the 8500 block of W. University Drive. Two of the victims are currently in critical condition. Their exact status remains undetermined as medical teams continue treatment.

Denton police describe the sequence of events as a chain reaction involving at least three cars and a tractor semi. Two vehicles attempted to turn into the Parker House Haunted Attraction. A third vehicle rear-ended one of the stopped cars. The impact pushed the first vehicle into oncoming traffic. A tractor semi then struck the car in the opposite lane.

Westbound lanes on Highway 380 remained closed for several hours while first responders cleared the scene. Police have ruled out alcohol as a contributing factor in the crash. The department says its investigation into the cause is ongoing. No official release regarding the final cause has been issued since the initial response.

Maria Salas, a resident living near the crash site, described the impact as the loudest bang she has ever heard. She was asleep when the accident occurred. Salas stated she believed people had died based on the level of screaming that followed the collision. She expressed a desire for more traffic control in the area around the attraction.

The Denton Police Department provided the preliminary details of the accident. An interview with the nearby resident added perspective on the immediate aftermath. The crash site is located near a known tourist destination for the holiday. The investigation continues to determine why the vehicles failed to avoid the collision.