Semi Catches Fire At Rest Area Tuesday Morning *Update*

Update (1-28 @ 9:44 a.m.)

Batesville Firefighters extinguished a semi fire that occurred at the eastbound Batesville Rest Area on I-74 Tuesday morning.

The fire department responded after receiving a 911 call from the truck driver, 48-year-old Terry Hightower, of Lexington, KY.

Hightower phoned emergency personnel after he parked his 2009 Freightliner semi at the rest area around 6:40 a.m.

According to Indiana State Police Sgt. Noel Houze, “[Hightower] heard a couple of popping noises and thought something had struck the windshield.”

“Upon further investigation he discovered a fire that appeared to start at one of the tractor tandems possibly from a hot brake,” Sgt. Houze added.

No injuries resulted from the incident and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Houze also noted that there is a solid sheet of ice on the entrance ramp to the rest area and the Indiana Department of Transportation has been called to treat the area.

Original Post (1/28 @ 8:17 a.m.)

Emergency personnel are on the scene of a semi truck fire on I-74 Tuesday morning, police confirm.

According to reports, the blaze is in the westbound lane near the Batesville Rest Area, around mile marker 151.

A Batesville Police spokesman indicated that it may be an isolated incident, involving just the semi.

WRBI will release more information when available.