This 18 wheeler caught fire and pulled over to the shoulder. The driver was transporting gasoline.
US-59 Blocked for Over an Hour for Tanker Fire, SEVEN OAKS, January 16, 2016 - At around 4:20 am on January 16, 2016 an 18 wheeler transporting gasoline was south-bound on US-59 when the driver noticed that the backside of the tractor portion of his rig was on fire. The driver pulled over to the shoulder on the right side of the road. Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the scene. The deputies shut down both sides of 59 as fire trucks from Livingston and Corrigan were dispatched. Additionally, Trooper Allen Stanton with the Texas Highway Patrol was dispatched to investigate. The tank portion of the rig was amazingly durable and the gasoline never ignited. Traffic on both sides of 59 was blocked for over an hour until the firemen were absolutely sure that the fire safely and completely extinguished. It appears that the brakes got hot causing the fire. At time of press (7:30 am), the mess is being cleaned up.
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