Semi Truck Crashes and Burns on I-635 in Dallas Texas

August 5th, 2010 |

DALLAS, TX – A semi trailer truck crashed and burst into flames early Tuesday morning, Aug 3, on a highway in Dallas County, Texas. The driver sustained moderate injuries in the truck accident that was set off when one of the tires on his trailer truck blew out and the 18 wheeler went out of control and slammed through a guardrail on Interstate 635 just above Josey Lane in Dallas, TX. The accident area is in the northeast section of the state about 206 miles southeast of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and about 190 miles west of Shreveport, Louisiana.

A big rig 18 wheeler lost control crashing into freeway guardrail. Photo: FOX4News

At around 4:20 a.m. Tuesday morning an unidentified truck driver was driving a semi trailer in the city of Dallas, TX. He was traveling west on Interstate 635 also known as the Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway. The trailer of the truck was loaded with a cargo of plastic cups and other paper products.

As the semi trailer truck moved through the city of Dallas one of the tires on the 18 wheeler suddenly blew out, causing the driver to lose control of his rig. The semi was traveling on a highway bridge that passed over Josey Lane and an interstate service road at the time of the tire blowout.

The trailer truck careened across the highway and slammed through a guardrail at the edge of the overpass bridge. The semi truck went down the grassy embankment and onto Josey Lane where it crashed and flipped over on its side. The semi trailer truck burst into flames upon impact.

No other persons or vehicles were involved in the truck accident.

Dallas police and firefighters were quickly at the scene of the fiery truck accident. EMTs treated and stabilized the truck driver before transporting him to nearby Parkland Memorial Hospital. The driver’s injuries have been reported as non-life threatening.

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The cargo of paper products fed the fire and soon flames and black smoke filled the air around the disabled truck. Firefighters would battle the burning truck for hours as the fire continued to flare up. Some authorities believe that the impact of the rollover truck accident may have damaged one or more of the trucks fuel tanks which caused the semi to explode in flames.

Dallas police shut down a section of Josey Lane around the burning semi trailer and a part of I-635 around the site of the truck accident. The areas would remain closed for hours while firefighters fought the flaming trailer truck and highway crews worked to remove the debris and wreckage of the destroyed 18 wheeler and repair the destroyed guardrail. Lane closures would last through the morning commute and into midday Tuesday.

Investigators reconstructing the truck accident found tire tracks coming down the embankment of the interstate. At this point they believe that the accident was caused by the blown tire but continue to investigate. It is likely officers with the State Commercial Vehicle Unit will inspect the semi trailer truck to determine if there were any other mechanical problem with the rig and if the collision could have been avoided.

No charges have been brought at this time and the truck accident remains under investigation.

For more information about Texas trucking laws, truck injury causes and victims rights, contact nationwide truck accident lawyers Gordon, Elias & Seely, LLP for expert advice. For a free initial consultation, talk to a Dallas, TX truck accident lawyer at 800.773.6770.