SHORTER, ALABAMA — A tractor-trailer fire on southbound Interstate 85 at mile post 23 near Shorter fully engulfed the truck and trailer in the early morning hours and sparked an adjacent ground cover fire, and then hours later a second incident occurred at the same location when a driver entered the safety zone and struck a service vehicle.
Shorter Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched at approximately 2:02 a.m. Units arrived to find the tractor and trailer fully involved in fire. The blaze was extinguished without injury to firefighters or the truck driver. Waugh-Mt. Meigs Fire/Rescue and Franklin Volunteer Fire/Rescue Department assisted with personnel and equipment.
At approximately 7:16 a.m., with recovery operations still underway at the same location, a southbound driver entered the safety zone and collided with a service vehicle. The driver sustained minor injuries and no other personnel on scene were hurt.
Recovery operations were still ongoing with the right lane blocked and traffic flowing in the left lane. Shorter Fire urged all motorists to obey the Move Over Law and remain alert for changing conditions.
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