STROUDSBURG, Pa. — An overturned tractor-trailer that caught fire on I-80 caused lane closures and restrictions in Monroe County Friday evening. A man risked his life to help the driver moments before the truck was engulfed in flames.
The eastbound lane on I-80 was closed, and westbound lanes had lane restrictions after the tractor-trailer caught fire around 7:45 p.m. on Friday.
Scott Buchanan of Stroudsburg is seen in the image below in a cell phone video, jumping out of his black pickup truck, wasting no time rushing to the aid of the semi-truck driver that overturned in Stroudsburg.
"First thing that came through my mind was I got to stop 'cause I don't want this truck coming on me, and then my second instinct was I got to get this guy out of the truck," said Scott Buchanan.
Buchanan said he grabbed the driver by the arms and pulled him to safety just seconds before the truck burst into flames.
"So I went over and pulled the windshield off, and I yanked the guy out; I'm like, are you ok, and he says yeah, and I'm like, 'we gotta get you out. It's gonna burn.'"
Where are the closures/restrictions?
The scene was cleared around 2 a.m.
What happened?
The incident occurred in the eastbound lanes of I-80, near exit 305, the main street ramp. A witness tells Newswatch 16 that the truck hauling a load of air conditioners was traveling fast and tipped over at a sharp turn. The truck was fully engulfed in flames in a matter of minutes.
Large plumes of billowing smoke could be seen for miles, and traffic was at a standstill.
According to Stroudsburg's Assistant Fire Chief, the driver had serious injuries, including burns, and was flown to a hospital in the Lehigh Valley.
This is a developing story; it will be updated when new details are available.
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