Sudden Stop

L-N Photo by Shannon Crabtree

A southbound semi-truck hauling particle board came to a sudden stop on U.S. 59 near Pierce Monday afternoon when a tire blow out apparently sparked a roaring blaze. Wharton County Sheriff's Deputy Paul Rodgers was first on the scene and called for help. The driver was taken to El Campo Memorial Hospital with facial injuries. The incident caused the southbound lanes of U.S. 59 to back up to Wharton as firefighters battled the blaze. Deputy Landy Willams is handling the case. The 1999 Peterbuilt was destroyed.