The driver of a truck was killed in a fiery six-vehicle crash that set a power pole ablaze and blocked a Torrance intersection Saturday.

Witnesses said the truck was traveling west on Torrance Boulevard at high speed at about 1:40 p.m. when it came upon backed-up traffic at Madrona Avenue and did not stop in time, according to Torrance police Sgt. Paul Kranke.

The vehicle hit a tree, several cars and a power pole before flipping onto its roof and bursting into flames on Madrona, Kranke said.

One person in the truck was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Torrance Fire Department Battalion Chief Bob Millea.

Kranke said the deceased victim was the truck’s driver, but the victim’s age and gender were not immediately available.

No one else suffered anything more than minor injuries, he said.

A 100-foot power pole went up in flames, Millea said.

Power was temporarily knocked out at the nearby Katy Geissert Civic Center Library as well as the Torrance Plunge; both were evacuated and closed.

Los Angeles resident Joshua Weingarten said he was driving northbound on Madrona through a green light when a truck suddenly hit his car in the intersection.

“Out of nowhere a truck went through the intersection and T-boned my car,” he said. “Stuff just kind of flew out on top of the car. … Shot off my car and hit the van next to me.”

Weingarten said the truck overturned and ignited the utility pole, which burst into flames and began exploding.

Traffic throughout the area was jammed for hours. Torrance Boulevard was closed between Madrona and Maple avenues and traffic was backed up along Torrance Boulevard, Madrona and Hawthorne Boulevard.

Streets near Del Amo Fashion Center also were congested.