Driver falls asleep hauling carnival rides, catches whole load on fire

A truck full of carnival rides caught fire in Kansas on Wednesday morning after the driver fell asleep at the wheel. 

The accident happened on August 25th at around 7:55 a.m. on southbound Highway 75 north of N.W. 46th Street. Near Topeka, Kansas. 

According to WIBW News, the unnamed truck driver fell asleep at the wheel, crashed into a guardrail, and rode the rail until the rig finally came to a stop and caught fire. 

“He drifted off the roadway and struck the guardrail here behind me,” said at the scene, “and basically rode the guardrail to where it came to a stop. Then it caught on fire,” said Kansas Highway Patrol Lt. Adam Simone.

The wreck left a portion of the semi truck hanging off of the roadway north of the overpass at N.W. 46th Street.

Thankfully, the truck driver was able to exit the rig himself and sustained no serious injuries. 

Flames could be seen burning beneath the semi truck for at least a half hour after the crash, but crews were eventually able to get the blaze under control. Southbound traffic was once again flowing freely by 11 a.m. Wednesday morning.