Southbound lanes of Interstate 55 were blocked just north of the Mississippi state line early Wednesday morning as emergency crews responded to a vehicle fire that appeared to involve a tractor-trailer. The blaze shut down traffic at I-55 South and East Shelby Drive in Memphis, leaving drivers stuck as firefighters worked the scene before dawn.
Two People Injured
A vehicle fire was reported during the early morning hours of Wednesday, September 30, according to Action News 5, which reported that all southbound lanes on I-55 were blocked just north of the Mississippi state line while crews responded. At the time of that report, it remained unclear what caused the fire or whether any injuries had occurred.
WREG reported that two people were injured in the crash and tractor-trailer fire.
Cause Still Under Investigation
What sparked the fire has not been determined. Action News 5 said the fire’s cause was unclear, while WREG reported that the tractor-trailer caught fire after a crash whose cause was unclear. No further details on the cause have been released.
A Pattern Of I-55 Disruptions In Memphis
Wednesday's fire is not the only recent incident to snarl traffic on the same stretch of interstate. In a separate incident, a tractor-trailer struck an overpass at Interstate 55 and South Third Street in Memphis, causing lane closures and traffic delays, according to the Memphis Police Department, as reported by Fox 13. Officers responded to that crash just after 7 p.m., and police said the Third Street bridge was not passable, with all southbound lanes of I-55 from South Third Street and both directions of South Third Street at I-55 closed. One person was taken to the hospital in non-critical condition in that incident, per the outlet's report.
For now, the cause of Wednesday's fire remains an open question. Commuters heading toward the Mississippi line should expect possible residual delays as investigators continue working to piece together what happened on I-55 before sunrise.
