18-wheeler burns on I-30; driver dead

Crews work a truck fire on Interstate 30 Tuesday morning.
Crews work a truck fire on Interstate 30 Tuesday morning.

Little Rock Fire Department crews responded Tuesday to a semitrailer fire on Interstate 30 eastbound near Base Line Road that killed the driver.

Little Rock Fire Department Capt. Randy Hickmon said the truck was eastbound on the highway when it veered right, hit a concrete barrier and jackknifed, catching fire as it jumped the barrier and came to rest on an adjacent service lane.

The driver died at the scene, Hickmon said. An Arkansas State Police crash report identified the driver as 70-year-old Lonoke resident Jerry White.

The road was dry and the weather was clear around 9:10 a.m., when the report states the accident occurred.

Traffic was delayed for some time while the crash was investigated, the wreckage was cleared and spilled hazardous materials were cleaned up.

Interstate 30 had been down to only one lane, but it reopened to all traffic just after 10:30 a.m.

See our live traffic map here for traffic trouble spots.

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An 18-wheeler burns Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014, on Interstate 30 near Base Line Road in Little Rock.

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