LENOIR CITY, Tenn. — A semi-truck fire on Interstate 40 in Loudon County caused significant traffic disruptions Thursday morning, with the eastbound lanes shut down for several hours. The incident occurred near mile marker 364 at around 2:15 a.m. when the truck, which was carrying liquid laundry soap, experienced an unexpected issue.
According to a preliminary report from the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the driver of the semi-truck had stopped to inspect the vehicle’s trailer when the left rear tire exploded as he was attempting to remove it. The blast struck the driver in the face, leading to a fire that quickly spread, engulfing the trailer in flames.
The Loudon County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that emergency crews worked for several hours to contain the fire, which led to the closure of the eastbound side of I-40. The highway remained blocked off for about six hours before it was finally reopened to traffic.
The driver was rushed to a local hospital for treatment, though his condition remains unknown at this time. A passenger who was also in the truck during the incident was reported to be uninjured.
The cause of the tire explosion has not yet been determined, and authorities are continuing to investigate the incident. The closure caused significant delays for motorists, as traffic was backed up for miles during the hours-long shutdown.
