In Smith County, Texas, police have identified the body of a trucker who died in a collision earlier this week.
On Tuesday, at 4:42 a.m., police responded to the scene of an accident on Highway 31, just east of Spur 364. Officials received notice that two semis had collided in a fiery crash.
KSWO reported that one semi was from Con-Way Trucking and the other owned by Hub Group.
The Tyler Police Department stated that the wreck happened when one of the truck drivers who was heading east, made a U-turn and collided with the second semi traveling west. The fuel tank of the Con-Way truck then ignited.
The truck’s trailers caught fire, leaving the driver trapped inside the cab.
55-year-old Steven Wayne Richer of Oglesby was driving the Con-way truck. He was pronounced dead at the crash site. Officials reported that the driver of the second truck was taken to a hospital with minor injuries.
Emergency crews including the Tyler police and fire departments, Smith County, and Dixie Volunteer Fire Department rushed to the scene of the accident to extinguish the inferno that had spread to grass near the road.
Traffic was backed up while emergency crews managed the situation.
The eastbound lanes of Highway 31 were reopened late Tuesday morning, while westbound lanes were temporarily detoured behind the former Kelly Springfield Plant and returned to Highway 31.
Roadways have since reopened.