KENEDY – A report released by DPS last week sheds light light on a multi-vehicle crash that happened on State Highway 72 Dec. 7 resulting in injuries to two men who were airlifted from the scene.

The accident happened at about 2:45 p.m. about 1.5 miles southwest of Kenedy.

According to information in the report, Robert Harwell, 23, was driving a white 2007 Chevrolet pickup owned by Urban Surveying, Inc. of Victoria in the eastbound lane of the highway when he fell asleep and traveled into the wrong lane of traffic in a no passing zone. The pickup was pulling a trailer.

A 1999 18-wheeler owned by Templer, Inc. of San Antonio, was traveling west on the highway pulling a belly dump trailer, driven by Gilbert Guiterrez, 52. Traveling behind the 18-wheeler was a white 2011 Chevrolet pickup owned by Harvest Pipeline Co. of Refugio driven by Justin Regino Gonzales, 31.

After drifting into the wrong lane, the 2007 pickup struck the 18-wheeler on the left side then struck the 2011 pickup on the left back quarter panel. The trailer behind the 2007 pickup broke loose and the pickup struck a concrete embankment on the north side of the highway.

At least one man was trapped inside the 2007 pickup, requiring extraction by emergency workers at the scene.

Two helicopters airlifted Harwell and his passenger Jason Figueroa, 34, from the scene of the accident to University Hospital in San Antonio. The report states that both men had non-incapacitating injuries as a result of the accident.

In the investigator’s opinion, driving on the wrong side and Harwell falling asleep at the wheel were contributing factors in the accident. A defective trailer hitch attached to the pickup Harwell was driving was also a contributing factor listed in the report.

Traffic was blocked in both directions for more than an hour as emergency personnel worked to clear the scene of damaged vehicles. TxDOT personnel was also called to the scene to make repairs associated with the crash.