UPDATED: Truck Fire Causes I-66 Lane Closures in Haymarket

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Photo Courtesy of PW Dept. of Fire & Rescue Photo Courtesy of PW Dept. of Fire & Rescue[/caption]

Updated: July 18, 2:55 p.m. 

According to Virginia State Police, the driver, Jose E. Martinez, 50, of Brownsville, Texas, suffered minor injuries in the crash.

Martinez was charged with reckless driving. Fatigue was a factor in the crash, which remains under investigation.

The single-vehicle crash on I-66 occurred Monday at 8:06 a.m., under the Route 15 overpass in Haymarket.

“A tractor-trailer was traveling east on I-66 when it ran off the left side of the interstate, struck the guardrail, and traveled approximately 1/10 of a mile against the guardrail before coming to a stop,” said Corrine Geller, Public Relations Manager for the Virginia State Police. “The truck then caught fire.”

The tractor-trailer was loaded with tomatoes.

Westbound lanes of I-66 were reopened at about 9 a.m. Eastbound lanes of I-66 reopened later after cleanup.

Updated: July 18, 10:35 a.m. PWC Department of Fire & Rescue said no injuries were reported. Updated: July 18, 10:15 a.m. According to the PWC Department of Fire & Rescue, the 18-wheeler box truck that caught fire and stalled traffic on I-66 this morning was carrying tomatoes, not hazardous materials. " dome fuel spillage from saddle tanks carrying 100–150 gallons of diesel," Communications Specialist  Kim Y. Hylander. Updated: July 18, 8:44 a.m. PWC Scanner Bums reported that the tractor trailer was carrying rubber and the Route 15 overpass has sustained damage. Original Story: A truck fire has forced the closure of all lanes on I-66 near the Route 15 overpass (40 mile marker) 8:30 a.m. Monday.
PWC Fire & Rescue has dispatched a Hazmat team to a truck fire that shut shut down I-66 East Monday morning. Photo Courtesy of Harry Fulwiler. PWC Fire & Rescue has dispatched a Hazmat team to a truck fire that shut shut down I-66 East Monday morning. Photo Courtesy of Harry Fulwiler.[/caption] According to PWC Department of Fire & Rescue Communications Specialist  Kim Y. Hylander, Hazmat units have been called in for a possible fuel spillage. "The Rt-15 overpass and the eastbound interchange on I-66 will be closed for an unknown time period," a police spokesperson said. "Expect delays." Bristow Beat will continue to monitor the incident.  
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