At 4:17am Tuesday morning Michael Bird, 56 of Liberty was northbound on Interstate 45 in a 2001 Freightliner box truck. He experienced a blowout on the right front tire causing him to leave the roadway and strike a guardrail and a bridge column almost head on.
The truck then caught fire causing severe damage to the Goree overpass at mile marker 113.
Bird was pronounced dead on the scene by Walker County Justice of the Peace Holt. Holt ordered Sam Houston Funeral Home to remove the victim from the scene.
TXDOT Officials and inspectors remained on the scene with the northbound lanes closed until almost 3 pm when the lanes were reopened. The inside shoulder and the Goree overpass remains closed for an undetermined amount of time where repairs can be made.
Huntsville firefighters extinguished the blaze.
DPS Trooper Hernandez worked investigated the crash with the assistance of Troopers Pierce, Monjaras and McNeil. Huntsville Police also assisted in the investigation.
