A dually flatbed pickup truck pulling a gooseneck trailer and a semitruck tractor-trailer hauling asphalt caught fire Thursday morning near the intersection of U.S. Route 45 and the Interstate 57/70 off-ramp after the two vehicles collided, according to Effingham Assistant Fire Chief Matt Kulesza.
The Effingham Fire and Police departments responded to the call placed around 10:05 a.m. Kulesza said the driver of the pickup truck was exiting off the interstate and turned southbound to go to the MotoMart gas station when the driver hit the semi, which was heading northbound, in the passenger side fuel tank, causing both units to burst into flames.
Kulesza said the impact caused the semi to strike another semitruck tractor-trailer situated in the turn lane to get back onto the interstate.