WILLCOX, AZ — A fiery semi-tractor trailer crash early Wednesday damaged an overpass pillar in southeastern Arizona and closed a section of Interstate 10 from Willcox to the New Mexico state line, authorities said.
On Friday, officials with the Arizona Department of Transportation announced the westbound lanes were partially reopened as crews continued repairs.
Officials said the crash resulted in the death of the big rig’s driver.
They said the semi-truck ran off the right side of the roadway, struck a guardrail and then collided with a pillar at the State Route 191 overpass west of Willcox. One pillar buckled and the truck caught fire.
UPDATE: Here's a photo of infrastructure damage to the US 191 overpass at I-10 near Willcox.
— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) May 3, 2023
A semi crashed into a pillar which is now buckled.
I-10 WB remains closed. US 191 is also closed prior the I-10 Junction. pic.twitter.com/llJNpWFobr
Westbound lanes of I-10 were closed on the New Mexico side of the state line, about 60 miles from the crash site, and lasted for about two days before a single lane was reopened on Friday.
ADOT officials said temporary bridge repairs would take up to two days before the lanes could reopen and crews worked around the clock.
The Cochise County Sheriff’s Office and ADOT were advising commuters to avoid the crash area and take an alternate route that included traveling southwest from New Mexico toward the border, then looping back to Benson through Bisbee and Tombstone.
Here is an updated detour map. This bypasses construction work on SR 80 in the St. David area. pic.twitter.com/s83Z1R21xV
— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) May 3, 2023
