The wreck is considered among the worst in Texas history. More than 130 cars crashed, leaving six dead.
FORT WORTH, Texas — Under the shade of an oak tree along the Trinity River, families gathered Tuesday to remember loved ones lost in one of the worst traffic accidents in Texas’s history.
A small plaque on the Riverside Park sidewalk permanently honors the six people who died on the icy Interstate 35 four years ago.
The families’ conversations are warm, but the reason for their reunion is somber.
“We have, through this tragedy, a common bond,” said Cindy Gerred, whose daughter Tiffany died in the crash.
On Feb. 11, 2021, 133 vehicles collided in a chain reaction as drivers lost control on slick roads. Emergency crews worked for hours to free those trapped in the wreckage.
The pile of cars stretched about 1,100 feet.
“We just take for granted that everything has been done to make sure we get to work safely,” Gerred said. “It wasn’t done that day.”
Gerred and other victims’ families are suing the toll road operator, North Tarrant Express. A federal investigation blamed NTE for inadequately de-icing the road on the morning of the crash, though the toll operator refutes those findings.
The Gerreds are also suing FedEx, alleging one of their truck drivers directly hit and killed Tiffany. Bystanders caught that crash on video. The case is set for trial in July.
In the tragedy’s aftermath, state lawmakers raised minimum training requirements for road maintenance crews working for private companies such as NTE. Those workers must now enroll in courses identical to the Texas Department of Transportation’s.
The legislature also granted TxDOT the authority to reduce speed limits by up to 10 mph during hazardous conditions.
At the Gerred family’s urging, the City of Fort Worth now observes First Responders Day on Feb. 11. The date honors those who risk their lives to help others during an emergency.
Many relatives of the crash victims delivered groceries and thank you notes to first responders Tuesday.
“Grief is never-ending,” Gerred said. “But you find those things that can help you through the minute, the day, and the year. That’s what FW 2.11 has meant to us.”
