Trailer hauling collector cars set aflame in fiery brake failure

A semi truck hauling a collection of classic cars caught fire on Thursday morning, causing untold damage to the vintage vehicles. 

The fire occurred on November 5th at around 7 a.m. on Interstate 70 near McFarland, Kansas. 

According to 13 News, the truck was hauling the cars east on I-70 when a fire sparked in the trailer. The truck driver was able to pull over onto the right shoulder of the highway and disconnect the truck from the trailer, saving the rig and possibly his own life, but was unable to stop the trailer from burning. 

When firefighters arrived, the trailer was already fully engulfed in flames, causing extensive damage to the trailer and to the classic cars inside. 

Kansas Highway Patrol officials say that the fire likely sparked when brakes on the trailer became overheated. The trailer was hauling six or seven cars at the time of the incident, including Porsches and Chevrolet Corvettes.

Luckily, some of the collector cars sustained only smoke damage, but others have been described as ‘extensively damaged.’ An estimated dollar loss has not yet been determined. 

The semi truck is a part of Horseless Carriage Antique & Classic Automobile Transportation out of Paterson, N.J.

Lanes on eastbound I-70 were shut down for a half hour as crews worked to clear the mess, which has since been cleared.