Police in Portland say that a trucker technically did not break any laws when he unhitched his burning trailer, and left the scene earlier this week.
The accident occurred just before 5 am on Tuesday, 18th June, on Interstate 5 between North Skidmore Street and Going Streets, near Portland, Oregon.
According to KOIN 6 an commercial vehicle was towing a trailer filled with propane when a mechanical problem caused the trailer catch fire. The truck driver, who was driving the vehicle, realized that something was wrong, unhitched it from the trailer and drove away, leaving the trailer to burn and explode along northbound I-5.
The driver was nowhere in sight. Firefighters extinguished the flames with 5,000 gallons water and prevented any more propane tanks from popping, “like popcorn on the freeway.”
The Portland Fire Investigations Unit called the company to inform them that the truck driver reported the incident. The truck driver did not have to stay at the scene because the fire was not the result of a collision and no criminal activity was suspected.
Officials told Fox66 that the Portland Fire Investigations Unit believed the fire started on the driver’s wheel well of the trailer. It was a mechanical problem. “There is no indication that any criminal act has occurred.”
The truck driver now cooperates with investigators. No further information was released.