BUCKSNORT, Tenn. -
A tractor trailer hauling museum artifacts caught fire early Tuesday morning, shutting down Interstate 40 East in Hickman County for several hours.
The incident was reported around 5 a.m. in the eastbound lanes of I-40 at mile marker 151 near Bucksnort, about 60 miles west of Nashville.
According to a report by the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the truck hit some debris in the roadway causing the driver to lose control, run off the left side of the highway and strike a guardrail and the end of the concrete bridge.
The impact caused the vehicle to burst into flames.
The driver, 58-year-old James Hall, of La Vergne, managed to escape with only minor injuries. He was taken by ambulance to a hospital in nearby Centerville.
Crews extinguished the flames quickly although all of the contents in the trailer were destroyed.
Drivers on I-40 East were diverted off the interstate and around the incident. The westbound lanes were slow as drivers slowed to look at the wreck.
One eastbound lane of I-40 reopened around 8:30 p.m.
The THP estimated it would be 1 p.m. before the scene was cleared and all eastbound lanes reopened.
No other vehicles were involved.
