Semi truck fire shuts down southbound I-35 at 119th; other crashes slow traffic
A tractor-trailer rig hauling cars caught fire Wednesday afternoon on Interstate 35, shutting down the southbound lanes at 119th Street for more than two hours.
The incident was reported about 12:30 p.m. The KC Scout traffic service projected that the southbound lanes would be blocked at least until 3:15 p.m. Traffic was still slow at 3 p.m.
The Olathe Fire Department reported that the truck’s engine caught fire accidentally and the fire spread to one of the cars on its trailer. Fire crews had to use special tactics — “damming and diking” — to contain the gasoline that leaked from the burning car.
“Both the truck and the car were a total loss,” Olathe Fire Captain Mike Hall said. No one was injured. Damage was estimated to be more than $100,000.
At least two multi-vehicle accidents also snarled traffic on southbound I-35 in the afternoon.
About 3 p.m., crashes were reported on I-35 at both 67th street and 95 street.
This story was originally published November 21, 2018 at 3:20 PM.