A little after 4 am Monday Caney Creek Fire was dispatched to a reported head-on crash with fire on FM 1314 at the Crystal Creek bridge. Units arrived to find an 18-wheeler loaded with food products fully involved in fire. In addition a trash compactor truck was against the bridge rail with the container over the side in the creek. The driver of that truck was entrapped and deceased. The food service truck driver was ejected from the truck. He was transported to HCA Conroe in critical condition. Firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control within a short period of time. DPS responded to the scene along with TXDOT. WIth over 400 gallons of diesel and oil on the ground cleanup is quite extensive especially since some found its way into Crystal Creek which feeds the San Jacinto River and to Lake Houston. The 18-wheeler was loaded with Owens Sausage and Fruity Pebbles waffles and was headed tot he Walmart Distribution Center in New Caney. FM 1314 was closed between Exxon Road and Bert Brown until at 1pm. The truck was owned by Bob Evans Foods. THat truck was totally destroyed and the trailer split in two. The trash container truck had just left the Walmart Distribution Center in New Caney and was heading to the dump when, on the bridge the 18 wheeler came into his lane ripping the side of the trash truck off and throwing the trash container into Crystal Creek below. With the container leaking fluid and the diesel fuel a sheen was seen on Crystal Creek. Milstead Environmental worked to dam up the creek and set booms to stop the oil and lubricants from going downstream. In addition the worked to remove the some 400 gallons of diesel from the roadway. Milstead and Miller Heavy Duty Wreckers worked to remove the damaged trucks. Eickenhorst Funeral Directors transported the victim to the Montgomery County Forensic Center for autopsy. The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office Vehicular Crimes Unit is assisting in the investigation.
