Driver dead after semi-truck crashed and caught fire, closing some lanes of I-435 in KC
A driver died after a semi-truck swerving to avoid debris crashed and caught fire Thursday morning on Interstate 435 in Kansas City.
Fire crews responded around 8:45 a.m. to eastbound I-435 near Interstate 470, where they found the semi-truck crashed into the highway’s outer barrier, said Michael Hopkins, a spokesman for the Kansas City Fire Department.
The red international semi-truck pulling two trailers was traveling on eastbound I-435 when it was struck by debris just east of 103rd Street and swerved to avoid more debris falling from a pickup truck, said Capt Corey Carlisle, a spokesman for the Kansas City Police Department.
The semi struck a Honda Civic and then a guardrail located on the south side of the interstate. It then traveled off the roadway and into a drainage ditch before striking a noise abatement wall.
Upon impact, the cab exploded, engulfing the cab and trailer in flames.
The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
Three lanes of eastbound I-435 remained closed for hours as the vehicles and debris were removed from the scene.
This story was originally published July 27, 2023 at 10:04 AM.
