STAFF REPORT
Body
FERRIS – Michael Velez, of Houston, died Sunday morning when his semi-truck fell off the highway embankment on Interstate 45 and East 5th St. and burst into flames.
The accident occurred around 5 a.m.
A Ferris Police officer saw a huge explosion on the highway and found the semi engulfed in flames.
He told dispatch he would need assistance from other agencies to block both North and South bound lanes of I-45.
The officer was unsure of the debris in the roadway, but the flames from the truck were reaching well above the highway
The semi was carrying empty cans of Dr Pepper and some of them had spilled out of the trailer.
In the less than 30 seconds from crash until he was able to make it on scene, the semi was engulfed in flames and had spread to the trailer.
When he went to see if he would be able to assist the driver out, he saw he was unable to get close to the cab due to the intense flames and with the air compressors and diesel gas tanks burning and popping.
The officer secured the area until Ferris Fire Department was able to make it on scene to extinguish the flames.
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