Truck catches fire, injured driver escapes

Hwy. 29 was closed for approximately a half-mile at the 32 mile marker (two miles past 137 and near Pleasant Home School) Tuesday as officials investigated and cleared the scene of a multi-vehicle wreck that occurred shortly after 2 p.m.

The Covington County Sheriff’s Department, three fire departments, and ALDOT were on the scene of the multiple vehicle wreck. The road was expected to be closed at least a couple of hours, Sheriff Dennis Meeks said, while deputies awaited the arrival of a trooper from Geneva County.

Meeks said it appeared the driver of an 18-wheeler could not stop his truck, and hit vehicles that were paused or stopped because the highway was being striped, including another 18-wheeler – an almost-empty tanker hauling fertilizer – and at least two other vehicles. The vehicle that could not stop caught fire, but firefighters said the driver was able to escape. He was believed to have a broken leg and possibly broken ribs.

Caroline Volunteer Fire Department, Hopewell Volunteer Fire Department, and Andalusia Fire Department all responded.

Several people were taken by ambulance to Andalusia Health.

Troopers had not yet released any further details about the accident when The Star-News went to press. The newspaper will update this story as more information becomes available.