Highway 190 Truck Fire A Challenge for Killeen Firefighters

A truck fire on Highway 190 Monday evening halted traffic and proved a challenge for firefighters.

Flames erupted in the cabin of an 18-wheeler in the eastbound lane near the Willow Spring exit around 2 p.m. The driver of the truck was pulled out by a Fort Hood soldier and taken to Metroplex Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. The fire eventually caused the fuel tanks in the vehicle to explode, sending thick black plumes of smoke into the air.

Traffic was diverted as Killeen firefighters battled the flames for more than two hours. The fire was difficult to extinguish because its location on the highway made it difficult for firefighters to access hydrants. Two fire engines exhausted their water supplies before authorities closed the eastbound access road to allow firefighters to draw water from a hydrant near Pershing Elementary School.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.