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Man pulled from burning wreckage
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| Fiery scene: Westbound traffic on I- was closed for nearly two hours Thursday after a tractor-trailer truck rolled and burst into flames. (Dave Brown/photo.) |
Chris Dabovich
San Pedro Valley News-Sun
A California man is alive after passing motorists helped free him from the cab of a burning tractor trailer that rolled Wednesday on Interstate 10.
Arizona Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Joy Craig identified the truck driver as Alejandro Aguilera, 37, of Los Angeles.
The westbound Sunset Pacific truck Aguilera was driving rolled at milepost 336 shortly before 7 p.m., and burst into flames, said Craig.
The truck, en route to Los Angeles, contained pillows and other household items, said Craig.
It was unclear how the truck came to roll. What is clear is the fast-thinking action of passing motorists, who risked their lives to free Aguilera who was pinned in the driver's seat after the truck came to rest on the driver's side.
Witness Curtis Pillonato, 35, of Gilbert, was behind Aguilera's truck when it went out of control and flipped, said Craig.
Pillonato, a U.S. Marine Corps reservist currently undergoing the hiring process with DPS, ran up to the wrecked truck, climbed up to the passenger side, broke out the window and went inside the cab to hand Aguilera a knife to cut the seat belt with.
According to the DPS news release, Pillonato could hear Aguilera yelling for help.
Aguilera and Pillonato were then helped out of the cab by Armando Moreno, of El Paso, Texas, another truck driver who had stopped.
Aguilera, received minor injuries, said Craig, noting Pillonato sustained a cut to an arm that required stitching. He was transported to Tucson Medical Center, said Craig.
The crash forced closure of both westbound lanes for about 90 minutes said Craig. One lane of traffic was opened up until midnight when both lanes were cleared.
Willcox city and rural fire departments responded to extinguish the blaze that sent thick black clouds of smoke, said Craig.
DPS called in the American Red Cross to assist Aguilera who lost all his possessions, said Craig.
San Pedro Valley News-Sun
A California man is alive after passing motorists helped free him from the cab of a burning tractor trailer that rolled Wednesday on Interstate 10.
Arizona Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Joy Craig identified the truck driver as Alejandro Aguilera, 37, of Los Angeles.
The westbound Sunset Pacific truck Aguilera was driving rolled at milepost 336 shortly before 7 p.m., and burst into flames, said Craig.
The truck, en route to Los Angeles, contained pillows and other household items, said Craig.
It was unclear how the truck came to roll. What is clear is the fast-thinking action of passing motorists, who risked their lives to free Aguilera who was pinned in the driver's seat after the truck came to rest on the driver's side.
Witness Curtis Pillonato, 35, of Gilbert, was behind Aguilera's truck when it went out of control and flipped, said Craig.
Pillonato, a U.S. Marine Corps reservist currently undergoing the hiring process with DPS, ran up to the wrecked truck, climbed up to the passenger side, broke out the window and went inside the cab to hand Aguilera a knife to cut the seat belt with.
According to the DPS news release, Pillonato could hear Aguilera yelling for help.
Aguilera and Pillonato were then helped out of the cab by Armando Moreno, of El Paso, Texas, another truck driver who had stopped.
Aguilera, received minor injuries, said Craig, noting Pillonato sustained a cut to an arm that required stitching. He was transported to Tucson Medical Center, said Craig.
The crash forced closure of both westbound lanes for about 90 minutes said Craig. One lane of traffic was opened up until midnight when both lanes were cleared.
Willcox city and rural fire departments responded to extinguish the blaze that sent thick black clouds of smoke, said Craig.
DPS called in the American Red Cross to assist Aguilera who lost all his possessions, said Craig.
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