A tanker truck driver died at the scene of a crash on West U.S. Highway 380 on Thursday night.
Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman Lonny Haschel said the 36-year-old Rhome man was driving a water tanker truck east on U.S. 380 near Ripy Road about 10 p.m. when the truck crossed the center line into oncoming traffic.
It is not clear what caused the truck to cross the yellow line, Haschel said. Positive identification of the victim is pending.
Haschel said the truck struck a trailer being pulled by a westbound Chevrolet pickup. The tanker veered off the north side of the highway, plunged down an embankment and rolled into a wooded area, where it struck several trees.
The cab of the 18-wheeler caught fire, Haschel said. The driver was declared dead at the scene.
The driver of the pickup was not injured.
Coffman Tank Trucks of Chico owns the tanker, according to reports. The accident still is under investigation.
