Semi causes major road closures, people nearby react

JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) - Dramatic video from the Jonesboro Police Department shows the moments a semi-truck caught on fire and swerved into a grassy area nearby.

A spokesperson for the Jonesboro Police Department reported the fire happened shortly after 12:30 p.m. on June 9 near the intersection of Southwest Drive and Parker Road.

By 2:06 p.m. police had reopened all roads except southbound Southwest Drive from Alexander to Parker Road.

The semi-truck and its trailer were fully engulfed in flames when the fire department arrived Friday afternoon. According to police, no one was injured in the fire. The identity of the driver was not released.

JPD reported the fire then spread to a nearby grassy area.

Police shut down Southwest Drive in both directions from Alexander to Wood Streets, and Parker Road in both directions while crews worked to put the fires out.

There are several businesses in that area of Jonesboro. Many of the employees at various businesses saw the entire incident take place.

“I heard the fire trucks, the ambulances, the police cars. It was all the sirens. I saw the corner lot on fire and I thought it was a cigarette, you know,” said Caitlin Boling, an employee at a nearby bank.

Employees said they saw a large amount of black smoke and felt their buildings shake.

“We didn’t know what was going to happen next. Like you said it could have spread into the grass in front of the store, it could have done anything,” said Justin Roush, a pharmacy tech at Parker Road Pharmacy.

Copyright 2023 KAIT. All rights reserved.