3 Die in Texas Thunderstorms; Dallas Airport Is Damaged

Thunderstorms moved through North Texas with winds up to 70 mph Friday, causing damage estimated in the millions of dollars at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Three people died in traffic accidents.

A 16-year-old girl died when her car hydroplaned on Texas 155 near Tyler and skidded into an 18-wheeler, the Texas Department of Public Safety said.

Two other people died when an 18-wheeler slid across the median on Interstate 20 during a rainstorm and collided with another 18-wheeler, which was hauling a tanker full of fuel, public safety spokesman Tom Vinger said. Two pickups and a car were also involved in the accident.

In Irving, several high-rise construction sites and large office buildings were damaged east of the airport. At one site, three people inside an office trailer were injured--one seriously--when winds toppled the structure.

There was no dollar estimate on the damage, but it could run into the tens of millions of dollars, said Sandra Ray, public relations director of Southwestern Insurance Information.

A Delta Air Lines hangar at the airport was damaged by strong winds that ripped portions of the roof off. Some American Airlines and Delta flights were delayed.