In Columbia City, Indiana, two semis collided on U.S. 30 early this morning.
At around 9:30 a.m., police and medics were called to attend to the scene near Lincolnway West, on Columbia City’s west side.
According to a witness, a semi pulling a car hauler was stopped on eastbound U.S. 30 at Lincolnway at a red light. All of the sudden, another semi came up on it, hit the car hauler, launching it into the air. It then landed on the first cab, and the two burst into flames.
Police on the scene reported that two semi trucks crashed and were “fully engulfed” in flames.
The driver of the stopped semi was trapped in his cab but escaped with only burns to his shoulder and hand.
Witnesses told media that he jumped from his cab and screamed,
“I’m alive!”
He was then airlifted to a Fort Wayne hospital.
The driver of the second cab admitted to police that he had fallen asleep right before the crash. He was uninjured.
Crews worked to extinguish the inferno.
A crane pulled the second semi apart from the first.
Wane reported that the eastbound and westbound lanes of U.S. 30 were both closed at Lincolnway West after the accident, and drivers were instructed to find alternate routes while crews cleared the roadway.
The Westbound lanes were reopened at 11 a.m., and the eastbound remained closed as of 3 p.m. and are expected to open later in the day.
Officials are continuing to investigate this incident.