Deer Causes Fiery I-55 Crash
A Tillatoba Volunteer Firefighter works to extinguish a truck fire Monday morning. The driver of the truck was not injured. – Photo by Leann McCoy
By Leann McCoy
The Daily Star
TILLATOBA – A deer caused a one-vehicle accident Monday morning on Interstate 55 northbound, one mile from the Grenada County line, according to the driver involved.
“A deer ran out in front of me, and I hit the bridge rail. The truck caught fire,” said driver Arthur Wade.
Tillatoba Volunteer Fire Department responded to the crash one mile past the Tillatoba Road/Highway 330 exit.
“I was driving to work and saw the accident after it happened,” said Ben Box, fire chief for Tillatoba.
Box called in the accident at 6:34 a.m. and crews responded within 15 minutes.
“It was hard for the crews to get here. There is only one turn around and it’s at exit 211,” he said.
Box described the stretch between exit 220 and exit 211 as a dangerous stretch on Interstate 55.
“We are always getting calls for accidents on this stretch of road,” he said.
Wade suffered no injuries, but the semi truck was a total loss. The empty trailer was saved.
