DPS reports indicate that one of the commercial tractor trailers owned by Schneider National Inc. was traveling west bound, up a hill when it was rear-ended by another commercial tractor trailer traveling at a higher rate of speed.  As a result of  the impact the fuel tanks on one of the tractor-trailers ruptured and ignited a fire.  The trailer of the Schneider National truck was consumed along with the tractor trailer that ran into the back of the Schneider truck.

Hazardous Materials Technicians from DPS and the Flagstaff Fire Department were called to the scene because the Schneider National trailer contained a load of hazardous materials which included lighter fluid and 300 pounds of an unknown corrosive material.

I-40 was closed in both directions. At 7:19 a.m. I-40 was reopened to westbound traffic after the fire had been extinguished and experts on scene determined the hazardous materials did not pose a threat to air quality.

The driver and co-driver of the first vehicle were not injured in the collision. The driver and co-driver of the second vehicle were both transported to the Flagstaff Medical Center where they were treated for non life threatening injuries.

DPS investigators believe that driver fatigue may have been a factor in this accident.

All lanes of I-40 re-opened at about 11 a.m.

Rollover accident I-17 near the Newman Park exit Nov. 13, 2009. (APSN.us/ Chad Black)

FLAGSTAFF (NAZ Today) – A winter storm moving through Northern Arizona on Friday, November 13th brought a combination of rain, snow, and hail to the area causing a number of accidents along I-40 and I-17.  In total the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) is reporting that 25 collisions occurred in and around the Flagstaff area on Friday.

Some of the most significant accidents included a vehicle rollover accident along I-17 near the Neuman Park exit.  Rescue crews had to use the ‘Jaws of Life” to cut away the roof  of a van in order to free three people who were trapped inside.  Two of the patients were transported to Flagtstaff Medical Center (FMC) in critical condition.  As rescue crews were preparing to transport the third patient to the hospital steam began pouring from the engine compartment of the ambulance.  The third patient was loaded into a second ambulance and transported to FMC.  Just north of the van rollover, a truck had also rolled over on I-17.  Three people in the truck were also transported to FMC.

On Friday at approximately 10 p.m. a combination of heavy rain, snow, and hail was reported in the area between Bellemont and Parks.   Three accidents were also reported in this area along I-40.  One of the accidents involved an SUV that rolled over while traveling west-bound on I-40 near Bellemont. The other two accidents in the area were minor, with  no major injuries being reported from these accidents.

The DPS want to remind drivers to slow down during bad weather conditions.  The posted speed limit may not be a safe speed to travel during bad weather.  Leave plenty of room between you and the vehicle ahead of you. Braking and stopping distances will also be affected by wet roads and icy /slippery roadway surfaces.

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Information for this story provided by:

APSN.us

Arizona Department of Public Safety

Kingman police say a dead body was found below the railroad overpass on the south side of eastbound I-40 at what appeared to be a mini-encampment off the tracks.

Kingman police Sgt. Bob Fisk said the body appeared to have been there anywhere from three to five days based on decomposition.

The body was found face down in a seated position.

Initially police couldn’t tell if the body was male or female, but a man’s boot was found at the scene, along with several other items, including scattered bottles of booze.

No immediate cause of death was found at the scene, but Fisk said foul play has been ruled out.

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Information from: Kingman Daily Miner

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.

Information from the Arizona Public Safety News Network

Transportation officials prepared the road for reopening earlier this evening, but a large accident involving “up to five tractor trailers” delayed the opening until around 7:30 pm, according to ADOT Flagstaff Office Information Officer Rod Wigman.  The road is now open in both directions, but motorists are advised to proceed with caution, as workers are still cleaning up spilled fluid from the road deck  that came from one of the tractor trailer rigs.