Today, just before 3:00 a.m., Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) troopers responded to a two-vehicle, fatal crash on eastbound Interstate 10, just east of 339th Avenue.
Preliminary information indicates a semi-truck, loaded with potatoes traveling in the left lane, rear-ended a slower moving semi carrying clothing, also traveling in the left lane. As a result of the impact, the rear semi caught fire. A passenger in that semi was able remove himself from the semi but sadly, the driver of the rear semi was deceased on scene.
The fire then traveled rearward from the cab of the semi and caught fire to the trailer and its contents as well. Fire personnel responded to the scene and were able to extinguish the fire. The passenger was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the front semi was evaluated on scene and was not transported.
The collision and fire caused the complete closure of eastbound I-10.