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Driver dies, dog survives I-65 semi fire

Posted at 6:53 AM, Mar 09, 2016
and last updated 2016-03-09 22:46:01-05

JOHNSON Co. -- The driver of a semi is dead after his truck caught fire in Johnson County early Wednesday morning.

Troopers say the semi ran off I-65 southbound, hit a guardrail and a tree before catching fire. The fire then spread to grass and trees nearby.

I-65 was closed to traffic for about an hour-and-a-half due to the accident.

Police say a Good Samaritan pulled the semi driver from the wreckage, but he later succumbed to his injuries.

The driver has been identified as Tyrone McKenney, 52, of Quinby, South Carolina.

The Good Samaritan, Bryan Corns, 56, is a semi driver himself, and was behind the semi that crashed. 

"I saw the crash and just couldn't drive by without stopping to help," he said. "When I got to the cab of the truck the trailer was blazing, it was burning me, but I knew I had to get him out." 

Police say Corns was nearly burnt and inhaled smoke, but still managed to pull McKenney out. 

"He didn't have to do what he did. He was there long before first responders could get there. The people's whose jobs is to do that, the firefighters and the paramedics. He chose to do that willingly. Absolutely a noble gesture, he should be recognized for it," Indiana State Police PIO John Perrine. 

After the fire clean up, employees from Graham's Wrecker Service found a dog alive, tucked away in the cab.

The dog was taken to the Franklin Animal Clinic, where vets cleaned her up and looked her over. She's being fostered by a firefighter until she can be returned to McKenney's family.

MORE | Dog rescued from fiery I-65 semi crash

The fire was at Mile Marker 93, just south of Whiteland Road on I-65. 

 

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