UPDATE: Semi truck engulfed in fiery crash on I-40 near Sky City
Posted at: 11/03/2012 10:09 AM
| Updated at: 11/03/2012 4:46 PM
By: Shaun Griswold, KOB.com
A semi truck caught fire after a crash on Interstate 40 near the Sky City Casino west of Albuquerque.
The interstate was closed for a few hours as crews cleaned up the accident.
The incident occurred east of Grants around 7:30 a.m., New Mexico State Police said.
Officers arrived on scene to find a semi tractor trailer tanker, fully engulfed in fire.
The driver of the truck was flown to UNMH in with non-life threatening injuries. The driver was later identified as Dennis Pritchard, 33, of Rio Rancho.
I-40 was closed in both directions while the vehicle fire burned.
The tractor tanker was loaded with over 8,000 gallons of unleaded gasoline, so fire fighting personnel had to let the fire burn until it was at a manageable point.
The fire was extinguished at 10:00 a.m.
Investigating officers said the truck driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel causing the tractor to overturn.
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