'In shock': Driver said 18-wheeler caught fire in Raleigh minutes from his destination
A driver is okay after his tractor trailer caught fire in Raleigh early Friday morning only eight minutes away from his destination.
Posted — UpdatedStan Smith has been driving trucks for 19 years and said he is close to retirement. He was shipping air conditioning units and air compressors to the Triangle from Tyler, Texas, and was almost done with his route when the back of the truck caught fire.
"I was in shock," Smith said. "I said, 'Oh my god, what is that?'"
The back of his truck caught fire just after 5 a.m. on Interstate 440 near Capital Boulevard. The eastbound lanes were closed near Exit 11 for Capital Boulevard, US-1 and US-401 for about an hour.
WRAL Nia Harden saw the fire from an overpass while she was headed to another story.
Smith said he pulled the truck to the side of the road, found his fire extinguisher and tried to put out the fire. Thankfully, first responders were on the scene quickly.
The cause of the fire was not known.
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