By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Fire engulfed a semi tractor-trailer on I-29 south of St. Joseph early this morning, prompting first a caution for motorists, then a re-routing of traffic into the city.
The truck driver escaped injury and was able to uncouple the tractor from the trailer before flames overcame the entire trailer, destroying six new vehicles aboard.
State Highway Patrol spokesman, Sergeant Jake Angle, says the accident could have been much worse, but the driver stopped and got away from the fire before being injured.
The fire apparently started shortly after five o’clock this morning when a rear wheel bearing caught fire in the back of the trailer around Platte City as the truck traveled north. The semi pulled over near mile marker 32 at the Dearborn exit. By that time, the trailer was fully engulfed.
Northbound I-29 traffic was re-routed for a time while emergency crews responded to the accident.
Video recording courtesy of Matt Stooks.
This story has been updated since first published.