An Evansville, Indiana man was killed Friday evening when his vehicle struck the rear of a semi on Interstate 64 east of Burnt Prairie.
42-year-old Bryant Long was traveling eastbound shortly after 5:30 p.m. when authorities say he approached the scene of an earlier semi fire. A dump semi operated by Heck’s Logistics of Mt. Vernon had slowed to make a U-turn to assist with cleanup when Long’s vehicle struck the rear of the truck.
Long was pronounced dead at the scene. The semi driver was not injured.
The earlier fire occurred near the 118-mile marker and destroyed a semi and trailer. Flames also spread to nearby grass, while westbound traffic backed up for about three miles. Carmi, Little Wabash and Fairfield Rural firefighters assisted at the scene.
Interstate 64 was closed for several hours for extrication and crash reconstruction.
White County Coroner Chris Marsh says an autopsy will be conducted. Illinois State Police continues to investigate the fatal crash.