Fort Mill, SC – On Monday, August 16, 2010 at about 3:00 p.m. a tractor trailer accident occurred when a truck pulling a gasoline tanker crashed into another vehicle then caught fire on Interstate 77 near Charlotte, NC, killing the driver. The accident happened near mile marker 87 on I-77 just north of Highway 160.
Fort Mill is in York County, South Carolina in the northern part of the state bordering on North Carolina 9 miles northeast of Rock Hill, SC and about 19 miles southwest of Charlotte, NC.
The accident happened when a big rig that was hauling gasoline was traveling southbound on I-77 and then collided with a Plymouth with two women aboard. The tractor trailer overturned, caught fire, then exploded.
The driver of the big rig was identified by the York County Coroner’s Office as 35 year-old Joshua Woodrow.
The two women from the other vehicle that was involved in the collision were identified as 56 year-old Deloise Clawson and 58 year-old Rosa Caldwell. Both women were seriously injured in the accident. They were both from Chester, S.C.
An article at TheState.com website describes the accident.
In the article, it was reported that a witnesses who saw the accident said that a motorist might have saved their lives when the two women were pulled from their vehicle only moments before the semi truck caught fire and exploded.
After the accident, they were transported to a hospital in Rock Hill, SC for treatment.
Below is a Google street view of the southbound section of Interstate 77 near where the fiery crash occurred. You can clearly see the exit sign for Highway 160 on the right. You can click the mouse and drag it around to get a full 360° view of the surrounding area.
The southbound lanes were closed for several hours after the accident while crews worked to clear the wreckage. Only one northbound lane was open during most of the late afternoon and early evening. Traffic was backed up all afternoon and throughout the evening almost until midnight.
The accident is under investigation.
Published by Atlanta truck accident lawyer Fried Goldberg LLC, nationwide truck accident attorneys specializing in commercial truck injury law across the United States. For more information about South Carolina trucking laws, truck injury causes and victims rights, talk to an expert truck attorney for a free initial consultation at 1.877.591.1801.