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Fiery Orange County wreck claims life of driver along Interstate 10 Monday night

The wreck forced troopers to shut down the westbound traffic lanes for several hours.

ORANGE, Texas — Investigators are working to identify a driver who was killed Monday night in a fiery wreck along Interstate 10 in Orange County.

A 2016 Peterbilt commercial truck  was disabled on the right shoulder of the interstate about a half-mile from the Womack Road exit when it was struck by a car according to ta news release from the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The 2016 Hyundai Sonata that struck the rear truck was also traveling westbound and then crossed across lanes of traffic, struck the concrete median barrier and burst into flames the release said.

The wreck forced troopers to shut down the westbound traffic lanes for several hours.

The driver of the Hyundai was severely burned and has not been able to be identified yet the release said.

The unidentified driver was pronounced dead at the scene by Precinct  Two Justice of the Peace Chad Jenkins.

The wreck remains under investigation. 

From a Texas Department of Public Safety news release...

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) investigated a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 10, on Monday, August 16, in Orange County.

The preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 9:11 p.m., a 2016 Peterbilt commercial vehicle was disabled on the westbound improved shoulder near mile marker 876. A 2016 Hyundai Sonata was traveling westbound failed to control speed, and struck the back of the Peterbilt. Due to the force of the crash, the Hyundai crossed all lanes of traffic and struck the concrete barrier, overturned and burst into flames. 

The driver of the commercial vehicle was not injured and was identified as a 64year-old man from Stony Point, New York. 

The driver of the Hyundai has not been identified due to the severe burns incurred in the crash.  The unidentified driver was pronounced deceased by Judge Chad Jenkins out of Orange, Texas 

This crash remains under investigation. No additional information is available at this time.

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This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.

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