EL PASO, Tx. - A NASCAR hauler carrying the number 6 Roush Racing AAA Ford Fusion was involved in a multi-vehicle wreck 85 miles east of El Paso mid-morning Wednesday, according to Border Patrol officials.
The accident occurred just after 9am (MST) at mile marker 102 on Interstate 10, near the Border Patrol check point outside the community of Sierra Blanca.
Truck driver Jesse Bear, tells ABC-7 the tractor-trailer struck a motor home in the rear. According to ABC-7 reporter Darren Hunt, the front part of the rig's cab was completely torn off.
The NASCAR hauler, owned by Roush Racing, was only transporting the AAA-sponsored racecar. Racer David Ragan was not involved in the wreck.
Bear adds there were "a few other vehicles in the wreck, but everything was crushed together." Crews diverted eastbound traffic from the Interstate to an access road as crews cleaned up the scene.
According to law enforcement agents at the accident scene, the hauler struck a motor home towing a truck, which then struck another 18 wheeler, that then struck a 2nd tractor trailer.
Emergency radio transmissions indicated that at least one person was rushed to Thomason Hospital with serious injuries. Emergency officials add there were 3 other persons transported to local hospitals.
According to NASCAR.com, the driver of the truck was former racecar driver Joe Milliken.
Milliken made 78 Cup starts from 1979 through 1986, compiling 10 top-fives and 38 top-10s. His best season was in 1979, when he posted 20 top-10s in 31 starts and finished sixth in points
Emergency crews with Culberson County, Hudspeth County, and Ft. Hancock all responded to the scene of the accident.
Law enforcement officials tell ABC-7 accidents of this type are not unusual for the checkpoint, as drivers aren't expecting to have to stop quickly, just off the interstate.
According to Roush Racing officials, the hauler was in route from Las Vegas, where two days of preseason testing concluded Tuesday, to Concord, N.C.
story first posted to kvia.com @ 1115a