Friday, January 9, 2015

FIERY WRECK BETWEEN TWO TRACTOR-TRAILERS KILLS FLORIDA TRUCK DRIVER IN LAURENS COUNTY, S.C.



FIERY WRECK BETWEEN TWO TRACTOR-TRAILERS KILLS FLORIDA TRUCK DRIVER IN LAURENS COUNTY, S.C.


One lane opens after deadly wreck on I-26

LAURENS COUNTY, S.C. —The South Carolina Highway Patrol reports a deadly accident blocked part of an Upstate interstate in Laurens County early Friday.
The wreck was reported at 2:10 a.m. on eastbound Interstate 26 at mile marker 56, according to the Highway Patrol’s website. That's east of Clinton near Hurricane Church Road.

Troopers said two tractor-trailers collided, causing one to burst into flames.
Laurens County Coroner Nick Nichols said the driver of the burning tractor-trailer died at the scene. The driver was identified as Tony Cummings, 54, of Miami, Florida.
Nichols said the tractor-trailer was registered to a company out of Florida called Vice Trucking, Inc.

The city of Clinton's director of public safety Robin Morse said he closed the interstate early on in the investigation due to the fact that the contents inside the burning trailer were unknown.

Once they determined the tractor-trailer was not carrying anything hazardous, he opened one lane, Morse said. He said Cummings was hauling a food product.
A detour was in place for eastbound traffic at mile marker 54, which is the Highway 72 Clinton exit, troopers said. That detour was removed at 5:30 a.m.
One lane is now open eastbound.

Motorists are still asked to use caution in the area and expect delays.
The driver of the other tractor-trailer, Charles Johnson, 53,  of Stone Mountain, Georgia, was wearing his seat belt and not injured, troopers said.