Semi Truck Driver Killed in Fiery Crash Outside of Colorado City

COLORADO CITY, TX – An Abilene truck driver was killed on Monday morning after his semi left the roadway on I-20.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, on Sep. 20 at around 6:30 a.m., troopers with the Texas Department of Public Safety were dispatched to I-20 near milepost 216 for the report of a major crash.

When the troopers arrived, they discovered a 2001 Mack truck towing a 2011 Wilco cargo tank semi-trailer that had went off the interstate in the median and into a ditch. Firefighters were then called to the scene as the truck caught on fire.

The driver, Kenith Wayne Herndon, 53, of Abilene, was killed on scene. It was unknown if he was wearing a seatbelt. Herndon was pronounced by Mitchell County Justice of the Peace Rick Grissam.

Preliminary information by the trooper determined that the truck was traveling west on Interstate 20 at milepost 216. The truck traveled south into the inside lane and then into the center median striking the inside westbound guard rail. The truck continued between the west and east bound overpass structure and fell to the ground when striking a column of the eastbound overpass. 

The truck then caught fire after coming to rest and was towing a trailer containing hazardous material identified as hydrochloric acid which also leaked out of the cargo tank. 

At the time of the crash the road conditions were dry and the weather was clear.