Big Rig Carrying Avocados Crashes, Catches Fire On I-35E
ELLIS COUNTY (CBSDFW.COM) - Traffic on Interstate-35E near Waxahachie was backed up for miles after a semi tractor-trailer caught fire.
The fire left a mushy mess on the roadway because the truck was carrying thousands of pounds of avocados.
The big rig went up in flames before the lunch hour and troopers with the Texas Department of Public Safety and local sheriff's deputies were forced to close all of the northbound lanes because of smoke and fire. Only one lane of the southbound lanes of I-35E, at FM 329, was getting through.
From the air Chopper11 showed firefighters actually inside the burned out trailer, raking through the avocados and trying to put out hot spots.
Officials with the Corsicana Highway Patrol said since the truck wasn't carrying hazardous materials there was no environmental threat.
By 2:40 p.m. all northbound and southbound lanes were back open.
No word if those who were backed up in traffic were standing by with chips and salsa!
