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Buchanan County Sheriff's Office releases details about semi crash and fire that shut down Interstate 380
Driver escaped uninjured after falling asleep at wheel, deputies said
Scene at semi tractor-trailer crash and fire on southbound Interstate 380 at Lime Creek on Dec. 21, 2021. (Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office photo)
Scene at semi tractor-trailer crash and fire on southbound Interstate 380 at Lime Creek on Dec. 21, 2021. (Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office photo)
A driver escaped a fiery semi tractor-trailer crash uninjured after falling asleep while driving on Interstate 380, according to a Buchanan County Sheriff's Office news release.
Investigators said Ryan Thieman, 49, of Marble Rock lost control at about 4:25 a.m. Dec. 21 while driving on southbound I-380 near mile marker 51. The semi struck the inside guardrail of the bridge over Lime Creek.
Leaking fuel ignited a fire, which engulfed the truck and extended to the median between the northbound and southbound lanes.
Thieman was able to exit the semi without injuries from the crash, the release stated. He later was cited for failure to maintain control.
The southbound lanes of I-380 were shut down between mile markers 49 and 55 from about 4:30 to 9 a.m. to allow firefighters to extinguish the blaze and for cleaning the roadway, according to the release.
