TOWANDA -- A county highway worker fled a fiery blaze Monday after his truck was hit from behind and caught fire shortly after 2 p.m. Monday on the overpass that connects to the Towanda exit on Interstate 55.

The crash temporarily blocked both southbound lanes of the county road leading into Towanda Monday afternoon while one lane was open northbound. Interstate traffic below the overpass was not affected.

A southbound sport utility vehicle rear-ended a McLean County Highway Department truck towing a street sweeper, authorities at the scene said.

The collision apparently forced the sweeper into the back of the truck and caused a gasoline tank in the pickup truck bed to explode. Flames shot 20 feet in the air along with heavy black smoke, said Towanda Assistant Fire Chief Michael Donald.

Fire engulfed most of the truck, leaving the cab a burned shell. The rear tires were melted.

The driver of the truck escaped and was in the median when emergency workers arrived. He had burned his hand and had back and neck pain, but fire officials said his injuries did not appear to be serious.

He was taken from the scene by the Hudson Fire Protection District.

The SUV was knocked on its driver’s side. There was no information on the SUV’s driver.

Southbound traffic was diverted to the southbound ramp of I-55, said McLean County sheriff’s police. OWANDA -- A county highway worker fled a fiery blaze Monday after his truck was hit from behind and caught fire shortly after 2 p.m. Monday on the overpass that connects to the Towanda exit on Interstate 55.

The crash temporarily blocked both southbound lanes of the county road leading into Towanda Monday afternoon while one lane was open northbound. Interstate traffic below the overpass was not affected.

A southbound sport utility vehicle rear-ended a McLean County Highway Department truck towing a street sweeper, authorities at the scene said.

The collision apparently forced the sweeper into the back of the truck and caused a gasoline tank in the pickup truck bed to explode. Flames shot 20 feet in the air along with heavy black smoke, said Towanda Assistant Fire Chief Michael Donald.

Fire engulfed most of the truck, leaving the cab a burned shell. The rear tires were melted.

The driver of the truck escaped and was in the median when emergency workers arrived. He had burned his hand and had back and neck pain, but fire officials said his injuries did not appear to be serious.

He was taken from the scene by the Hudson Fire Protection District.

The SUV was knocked on its driver’s side. There was no information on the SUV’s driver.

Southbound traffic was diverted to the southbound ramp of I-55, said McLean County sheriff’s police.

From the Pantagraph.

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