Truck Carrying Propane Catches Fire on US 67, Slows Traffic

Traffic is backed up at a standstill about a mile west of the bridge over the Middle Concho River on U.S. 67 due to an incident involving what radio traffic indicated was a flaming truck carrying propane.

The Dove Creek Volunteer Fire Department is approaching the scene from the west, but is having difficulty getting through traffic.

Eastbound traffic into San Angelo has almost turned into two lanes, as drivers head down the single lane and the shoulder side-by-side.

The incident is approximately 1/4 mile east of Middle Concho Bridge. 

Update 7:35 p.m.

A mid-80s white Chevy half-ton pickup with a Konig lift pulling a horse trailer loaded with Pac-Man and various arcade machines was eastbound on 67 heading to San Angelo when a fire broke out.

The truck has been modified to run on propane, said a firefighter on scene, and a 70-gallon propane truck is mouned in the bed of the truck, causing some concern.

The driver was cruising along when he saw smoke, but he thought it was steam from the radiator. He soon noticed the lights on his trailer were no longer working, and the engine caught fire.

The firefighters were able save Mrs. Pac-Man and the other arcade games and prevent an explosion from the propane tank.

Dove Creek VFD, TxDPS Troopers and Deputies from the TGCSO responded to the scene. 

No one was injured in the fire. Both the driver and the passenger bailed out of the truck when it went up in flames.

Traffic is anticipated to be backed up for a while, but the tow truck is en route.