One person was killed and all eastbound lanes of the Indiana Toll Road were shut down Monday afternoon in LaPorte County after two semis collided in a fiery crash on the roadway.
Indiana State Police said one semi rear-ended another semi just after 3 p.m. at mile marker 42 causing one of the semis to catch fire.
The 36-year-old driver became trapped inside the burning semi and was killed as flames were fueled by paper towels being hauled inside the truck, police said.
"It was all paper towels from the semi truck," said LaPorte County Hazmat Director Jeff Hamilton. "It was all pretty difficult to get out with it all packed into the semi."
All eastbound lanes of the toll road were shut down and traffic was diverted at mile markers 31 and 39.
Long delays and major traffic backups up to 9 miles long were reported in the area.
Check back for details on this developing story.
