PENITAS - Firefighters in Hidalgo County completed training on vehicle extrication techniques over the weekend. About 30 firefighters from Penitas, La Joya, Alton and Palmview took part in the training. 

Dr. Armado O'Cana, a Penitas city official, said since the city's fire department opened a years ago, they've kept busy with vehicle crashes on Expressway 83. He told CHANNEL 5 NEWS 60 percent of the fire department's calls are accidents on the expressway. That's why they spent the Saturday practicing vehicle extrication techniques with new equipment.

O'Cana said since many of the crashes are due to construction, they don't see the number of vehicle crashes dropping anytime soon, especially with more construction projects in the future.

He told us texting is another factor in crashes.