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Fiery accident: Trapped man is pulled from cab of semi-truck
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David Brown/Range News Published:A California semi-truck driver is lucky to be alive after a fiery accident on I-10 near Willcox last Wednesday night.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) received reports of a tractor-trailer fire at nearly 7 p.m. on Aug.30 at milepost 336. The truck had rolled over, completely blocking the westbound traffic lanes, and was engulfed in flames and thick black smoke, said Office Joyce Craig, DPS public information officer. The truck was carrying pillows and other household goods enroute to California, she said. The Sunset Pacific truck was driven by 37-year-old Alejandro Aguilera of Los Angeles. When the truck rolled over, it landed with the driver side down, trapping Aguilera inside, Craig said. A witness, 35-year-old Curtis W. Pillonato of Gilbert, was traveling behind the truck as it went out of control and flipped. Pillonato parked about 500 feet behind the truck and ran to the cab, climbed up on the passenger door, and busted out the passenger window as the flames and black smoke billowed around him, Craig said. He said he could hear Aguilera yelling for help. Pillonato gave Aguilera a knife so he could cut his seatbelt, and both were assisted out of the burning inferno by 34-year-old Armando Moreno of El Paso, another truck driver who had stopped to help, she said. Aguilera received minor injuries in the accident and Pillonato sustained a cut to his arm that required stitches. He was treated and released at Tucson Medical Center, Craig said. Pillonato is currently a reservist with the United States Marine Corp, and is in the hiring process with the Arizona DPS, she said. Aguilera lost all of his possessions, which were in the cab of the truck. DPS Officer Wolley contacted the American Red Cross to assist Aguilera and provide him with a motel room, Craig said. I-10 was completely closed for an hour and a half, and then restricted to one lane until midnight when the road was completely re-opened. Fire units from Willcox City and Willcox Rural Fire Departments responded. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) assisted with traffic control in the area. The cause of the accident is under investigation.
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