Just after 1015pm an 18-wheeler load of pipe was outbound in the area of US 290 which is under construction. Speed limits are posted at 55mph in the two lanes with a concrete wall on each side. Several drivers said they felt the driver may have been falling asleep because he was unable to maintain a lane, As the truck approached Binford Road in Waller he passed another 18-wheeler laded with 19 large bags of ground rubber tires. That driver who is from
Humble told his wife before he left that he felt strange about this trip. She urged him not to go but since he was the owner of the truck and was already loaded he decided to make the trip to Fort Hood. Just after the truck was passed and as the truck loaded with pipe approached the top of the overpass, the driver struck the concrete wall ripping the fuel tank. Several hundred gallons flowed onto the freeway and ignited. The driver with the load of rubber had no place to go as he watched the river of fire flow toward him. He jumped out of the truck just as his truck was consumed in fire also. Two other trucks which were behind the burning trucks were able to swerve to the exit ramp and avoid a collision. The drivers of both burning trucks were able to escape injury. Their trucks were incinerated.Both inbound and outbound lanes were closed as Rosehill, Waller and Prairie View Fire Departments battled the blaze with foam. The eastbound lane suffered some damage, however the westbound lanes had heavy debris on it along with melted asphalt, diesel. It will remain closed most of Tuesday morning. Haz-Mat International of Conroe and Masters Environmental of Houston have been tasked with the cleanup. TXDOT will then need to inspect the asphalt for damage, replace highway signs that were burned and check the bridge structure over Binford Road for any structural damage.
