WENTZVILLE, Mo. — A semi truck fire shut down eastbound I-70 near the Wentzville Parkway exit. It was the latest traffic incident to cause backups in the area Monday morning.
The fire was reported shortly before 7:30 a.m. in the eastbound lanes just before the Wentzville Parkway exit.
The driver told Wentzville police the big rig suddenly burst into flames while driving down I-70. The driver was able to get out safely. Fire crews were able to extinguish the fire. They aren't sure what started the fire at this time.
After putting out the fire, crews had to deal with icy roads because of all the water they needed to put out the fire. MoDOT crews responded to treat the highway and clear away the ice.
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Another crash was reported just a few minutes later slightly west of the vehicle fire.
I-70 EB between Exit 203 (route T) and Exit 208 (Wentzville Parkway) was closed but is back open now.
MoDOT said the right lane of 70 where the truck caught fire will be closed for three or four hours starting at 9 p.m. Monday so crews can clean up the road.
Drivers are asked to find alternate routes.
These were just the latest traffic incidents in the eastbound I-70 lanes in St. Charles County Monday morning.
A pedestrian was hit and killed by a car at about 5:15 a.m. The incident forced emergency crews to shut down all eastbound lanes for about an hour. Emergency crews are still on the scene. A couple lanes of traffic are now getting by.
