Traffic slowed after accidents on Jackson Road

PHARR — Five vehicles were involved in two accidents Thursday morning along Jackson Road in Pharr.

Emergency crews responded to the scene shortly after 9:30 a.m. Thursday at Jackson and Minnesota Roads.

Pharr police officers at the scene refused to provide basic details about the wrecks. An officer did confirm there were two separate accidents.

Two people were seen loaded onto stretchers and into ambulances at the scene.

A relative of several crash victims, 43-year-old Eli Zarate of Pharr, said a utility truck was working on the blinking traffic light at the intersection when a Chevrolet Silverardo pickup truck crossed east to west on Minnesota Road.

A brown Nissan car driven by the relative's niece was headed south on Jackson Road and smashed into the Chevrolet, causing it to tip over on its side. A white Lincoln Navigator at the intersection of Violet Avenue in McAllen appeared to collide with the tipped-over Chevrolet pickup truck.

Zarate said his adult sister and niece suffered minor injuries during the collision, but his young son appeared to be OK.

"The baby is just scared," he said. "I am too."

Jackson Road is the dividing line between Pharr and McAllen — most common east-west routes have unique names in each city. Violet Avenue in McAllen becomes Minnesota Road in Pharr.

A second minor accident between a minivan and a white passenger car occurred shortly after the first wreck.

Emergency crews continued to clear the scene at 10:30 a.m. Thursday. Motorists are advised to avoid the area.