Just before noon on Thursday an 18-wheeler loaded with empty 55-gallon drums was traveling north on I-69 and attempted to exit SH 99 westbound ramp. The driver slammed into the concrete divided between I69 and the ramp. The truck burst into flames. The driver jumped to the truck and according to witnesses was on fire, several people tried to help but that’s when the entire shoulder erupted in flames from the flowing several hundred gallons of diesel. DPS investigated the crash as EMC and Porter Fire worked on extinguishing the fire. The entire northbound lanes of the freeway and shoulder were closed for almost two hours. As this happened a wrecker from Houston towing a car slowed to look at the scene, when he did a GMC pickup slammed into the rear of the wrecker causing it to flip and strike another vehicle. A tire from the truck flew into the investigation scene across the freeway almost hitting several troopers. The 18-wheeler driver has not yet been identified. Masters Hazmat is on the scene as diesel flows into the ditched drainage that goes to White Oak Creek. At 330pm only two lanes are open northbound. Rios Funeral Directors transported the victim to the Montgomery County Forensic Center for autopsy.
