San Luis truck driver killed in crash on I-8

A semi-truck driver from San Luis was killed in a rollover that happened early Wednesday morning on Interstate 8 near the town of Tacna, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

Troopers and other emergency personnel responded to milepost 39.7 at about 2:23 a.m. for a report of a single-vehicle rollover crash, with the vehicle on fire and completely blocking eastbound traffic.

DPS spokesman Bart Graves says that a preliminary investigation determined that a commercial vehicle hauling a tanker-trailer was driving west on Interstate 8 when it drifted into the median.

The truck then continued through the median and into the eastbound lanes of I-8, where it rolled over, completely blocking traffic, and caught on fire.

The driver of the truck, identified as Antioco Contreras-Contreras, 54, from San Luis, died at the scene. The tanker-trailer was carrying a load of gasoline.

AZDPS HazMat and ADOT personnel responded to the scene to assist the troopers. Eastbound I-8 was closed to traffic during the investigation and cleanup. The road reopened at about 2 p.m.

While the interstate was closed, all eastbound traffic was diverted from the freeway at Exit 37, which is Avenue 36E, and onto Old U.S. 80. Traffic was able to re-enter the freeway at Avenue 40 E. The westbound lanes were unaffected.

The investigation is ongoing.