Big rig bursts into flames after fatal crash on Interstate 35 in San Marcos

A vehicle fire on Interstate 35 in San Marcos was holding up traffic for commuters on Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 25, 2014. A vehicle fire on Interstate 35 in San Marcos was holding up traffic for commuters on Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 25, 2014. Photo: KXAN News Photo: KXAN News Image 1 of / 38 Caption Close Big rig bursts into flames after fatal crash on Interstate 35 in San Marcos 1 / 38 Back to Gallery

A fiery crash Tuesday on Interstate 35 near Exit 204 involving two semi trucks and two passenger vehicles has left a person dead and four others injured, San Marcos police said.

The crash, which occurred around 3:30 p.m., destroyed the two trucks and one of the passenger vehicles and brought northbound lanes and one southbound lane to a standstill for hours, police said in a news release. The northbound lanes remained closed as of 10:37 p.m., according to the Department of Public Safety.

According to police, traffic headed north on the interstate had slowed for a minor crash when a gravel truck swerved, sideswiped the semi trucks and the passenger vehicles, and then hit the middle wall, knocking part of the load of gravel into the inside southbound lane.

The release states the gravel truck then struck another passenger vehicle, which forced it into another semi truck, and the three vehicles caught fire on the right shoulder of the interstate.

Police said flying gravel also hit a vehicle traveling on the southbound lane of I-35. Eight vehicles total were damaged in the crash.

According to the release, firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 3:36 p.m. and arrived at 3:42 p.m. Officials said fire personnel had the fire out by 4:06 p.m., with the exception of a few hot spots.

The wreck closed the access roads in addition to the highway. Photos showing large flames and billowing smoke flooded social media just before 4 p.m.

HAZMAT teams were working Monday night to clean up diesel fuel that spilled from the fuel tanks of the trucks, police said.

The San Marcos Police Department Collision Investigation Team is investigating the crash. The person killed in the crash has not been identified, pending notification of relatives, officials said.

ezavala@express-news.net

Twitter: @elizabeth2863