Wind damage

A severe wind storm that struck the Permian Basin Tuesday was blamed for a multi-car accident that afternoon east of Balmorhea, Texas DOT spokesman Glen Larum said.

Information on the accident was limited by 9 p.m. Communications officer Charlene Banks with the Department of Public Safety said one person was killed, but she said no further information was available.

DPS troopers, Reeves County sheriff deputies and Fort Stockton ambulances swarmed an area on Interstate 10 near State Highway 17 during the afternoon.

Several conflicting reports came on the accident.

A Reeves County Sheriff's Office employee said the accident took place at about 3 p.m. and involved three 18-wheel tractor-trailers and a passenger vehicle. Another DPS communications officer from Ozona, however, who also declined to name herself because it was out of her jurisdiction, said as many as 15 cars were involved.

Elsewhere, sporadic damages were reported all over the area, with at least one downed power line reported in Crane and several small grass fires in Odessa.

The carnage was more severe in Ward and Reeves counties. The canopy to the Monahans McDonalds playground was torn apart according to assistant manager Crystal Mendoza, while Reeves County jailer Michael Carrasco said the Airlawn Furniture in Pecos lost its roof.

Monahans resident Eyvon Dobkins said she saw her recently installed carport roof blown down the street during the wind storm.

"We had to get a back hoe to pick it up," she said of the roof, which weighed about a ton and was 30 feet long. "It blew it right off... it scared me, I never saw such a thing."

Some took the weather in stride back in Odessa. Joy Welch, who was helping set up several funerals and was leaving with a platter from H-E-B Tuesday afternoon, said she had to put up tents to help shelter the viewers from the gusts.

Her 10-year-old daughter Kaitlyn took shelter near her mom.

"It makes me cold," Kaitlyn said of the wind. "I expected it to be warm."