Semi fire on I-380 southbound near Brandon causes significant damage, no one injured

BRANDON, Iowa (KCRG) - The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office said a semi fire on I-380 southbound near Brandon, Iowa on Tuesday morning happened after the driver fell asleep, lost control and crashed into a guardrail.

Officials said the crash, that happened at around 4:25 a.m., on a bridge over Lime Creek, caused significant damage.

In a news release, officials said leaking fuel ignited a fire that fully engulfed the semi and trailer, as well as the median between the north and southbound lanes.

The driver, 49-year-old Ryan Thieman, of Marble Rock, Iowa, was able to exit the vehicle and was not injured.

Thieman was cited for Failure to Maintain Control.

The southbound lanes of I-380 were shut down between exit 55: County Road V65 and Exit 49: County Road D48 for about 4.5 hours while crews worked to extinguish the fire and clear the roadway of debris.

Semi fire on I-380 near Brandon, Iowa
UPDATE: The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office said a semi fire on I-380 southbound near Brandon, Iowa on Tuesday morning happened after the driver fell asleep, lost control and crashed into a guardrail. See the story: https://www.kcrg.com/2021/12/21/semi-fire-blocks-i-380-southbound-near-brandon-iowa/
Posted by KCRG-TV9 on Tuesday, December 21, 2021

A KCRG-TV9 viewer sent us this photo of a semi on fire on I-380 near Brandon, Iowa. — A KCRG-TV9 viewer sent us this photo of a semi on fire on I-380 near Brandon, Iowa.(Melissa)

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