Semi-truck driver survived crash off overpass and explosion, highways closed for hours

VINITA, Okla. – In a breathtaking incident that officials are calling a miracle, a semi-truck driver survived a horrific plunge off an overpass onto a highway below, followed by a massive explosion that engulfed his rig in flames. The dramatic crash, which occurred Thursday on the Will Rogers Turnpike, led to the closure of major highways for hours and the arrest of another driver who allegedly caused the collision.

The chaos began late Thursday morning when a passenger vehicle, driven by Nurbin Remigio Hernandez-Guzman, 21, reportedly lost control and collided with the semi-truck on the eastbound side of Interstate 44. The impact sent the massive truck careening off the overpass, crashing onto U.S. Highway 60 below, where it immediately erupted into a ball of fire and thick black smoke.

First responders arriving at the chaotic scene initially feared the worst, assuming the driver of the semi could not have survived the inferno. However, in a turn of events that has left even seasoned emergency workers in disbelief, the truck driver emerged from the wreckage with only minor injuries.

“We are incredibly grateful that this crash did not result in any fatalities,” the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said in a statement. “The survival of the truck driver is nothing short of a miracle.”

The driver of the car, Hernandez-Guzman, allegedly fled the scene on foot. Authorities launched a search of a nearby wooded area and apprehended him approximately three hours later. He was taken into custody and booked into the Craig County Jail on multiple charges, including leaving the scene of an injury crash, reckless driving, obstruction, driving without a license, and failure to maintain insurance. The Craig County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that he is also being held on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer.

The crash and subsequent fire necessitated the complete closure of the eastbound lanes of I-44 and a section of U.S. 60 for several hours, causing significant traffic delays as emergency crews worked to extinguish the blaze and clear the mangled debris. The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol managed the complex scene, working to reopen the roadways as quickly as possible. The I-44 eastbound exit ramp to Vinita was reopened around noon, with U.S. 60 remaining closed for a longer period.

The investigation into the crash is ongoing, and the case will be submitted to the Craig County District Attorney’s Office for review. Authorities have praised the coordinated efforts of all the first responders and assisting agencies who helped manage the large and dangerous scene. For now, a sense of relief and astonishment prevails that a crash of this magnitude did not have a more tragic outcome.