
A flaming semi truck shut down Interstate 45 in Houston on Friday after the driver swerved to avoid a previous pile up crash.
The accident occurred on April 20th at approximately 5:00 a.m. in Houston, Texas.
According to Houston Police Department Sergeant Thomas Fendi, a pickup truck was traveling along Interstate 45 south near West Road when it blew a tire, forcing it to slow down and move to the shoulder. Three vehicles behind the truck then slowed down to allow the truck to pull over, but a fourth did not, slamming into the back of the third slow vehicle and forcing it into the others. A fifth driver then struck the fourth vehicle and sideswiped another. The semi truck then swerved to avoid the wreck and overcorrected, rolling the truck onto its side and on top of a guardrail, where it burst into flames.
UPDATE: Wow!! This is the semi that caught fire and exploded this morning @45N West Rd, after driver lost control avoiding accident up ahead. He avoided hitting 6 cars! Was flung halfway out of his window, @houstonpolice officer pulled him to safety. Look at that cabin! #khou11 pic.twitter.com/AbGaUEhX43
— Michelle Choi (@MichelleKHOU) April 20, 2018
The, truck driver, whose name has been released only as “Raul,” had to be pulled from the flaming big rig by first responders, but suffered only minor injuries. He was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
This is Raul, the semi driver that @houstonpolice managed to pull out just in time, moments before his semi exploded into massive fire, @45 N SB! He avoided crashing into an accident involving 6 cars in front, he rolled over trying to avoid. Miracle, no one was killed! #khou11 pic.twitter.com/J23MdijVz2
— Michelle Choi (@MichelleKHOU) April 20, 2018
Several of the other motorists also suffered minor injuries in the wreck but are all expected to make a full recovery. Their identities have not been released but police believe that the fifth driver may have been drunk at the time of the crash, reported KPRC Houston.
UPDATE: Trash now being hauled away, clean up crews busy trying to clear up a semi that caught fire and exploded this morning @45N south of West Rd. Driver survived, he flipped truck avoiding 6 car accident up ahead. All SB lanes still closed, NB 2 lanes open. #khou11 pic.twitter.com/airf2HbN1H
— Michelle Choi (@MichelleKHOU) April 20, 2018
Ivan Verdcia, a coworker of the trucker involved in the wreck, says that the tractor trailer was hauling trash when it caught fire and that the trucker was complaining of a hurt neck and back immediately following the incident.
Both sides of I-45 were shut down for about two hours as crews worked to clear the wreckage from the roadway. The northbound lanes were reopened at 7:00 a.m. Friday morning, but the southbound lanes will remain closed for an unknown period of time as crews await machinery to aid in the cleanup of the charred semi truck.
Officials say that the road closures could last into the evening and that drivers are advised to avoid the area by using Highway 59/Eastex Freeway or the Hardy Toll Road.