Man Dies in 18-Wheeler Rollover Fiery Crash on a Rain-Soaked I-20

SWEETWATER, TX — A fiery crash of a 2013 Peterbilt truck tractor towing a semi-trailer on Interstate 20 near Sweetwater closed the freeway for several hours Tuesday afternoon.

According to Texas DPS, the Peterbilt rig was headed eastbound on I-20 in the outside lane. At 6.7 miles past Trent in Nolan County, the driver of the truck drifted into the inside lane. Realizing his mistake, the driver over-corrected to the right.

The Peterbilt and trailer departed the prepared surface, barrowing through a south ditch next to the pavement and then rolled over onto the service road. The truck then struck a telephone pole and caught fire.

KTXS was at the scene and reported the eastbound lanes were reduced to one lane and traffic was backed up substantially in both directions. The Sweetwater Fire Department battled the blaze for over an hour after the crash.

Killed in the crash was the driver, the sole occupant of the vehicle, Hector M. Pedroza Guillen, 58, of El Paso. Nolan County Justice of the Peace Judge Whitley May pronounced him dead at the scene.

KTXS reported the truck was full of office supplies headed for the Dallas Metroplex.

DPS reported the crash happened at 1:48 p.m. and the roadways were wet with raining weather. The speed limit where the crash happened is 65 mph. There were no other vehicles involved in the crash.