Big rig crash cleared near Conroe; I-45 reopened

CONROE, TX (KTRK) -- The big rig crash that closed I-45 southbound this morning near Conroe has been cleared from the roadway and traffic is flowing again.

The accident happened around 2:45am on the North Freeway's southbound lanes near Gladstell.

RAW VIDEO: Transtar captures moments after big rig crash

Raw video taken from Transtar jam cams show a fiery wreck involving an 18-wheeler in Conroe.

The driver of the big rig told Eyewitness News he lost one of the right front tires on the cab of his truck. This caused him to smash the 18-wheeler into a barricade.

The truck caught fire after the crash, sending huge plumes of black smoke into the air.

Jeff Ehling shares the latest from the crash scene

When firefighters arrived, they called for a Hazmat unit. Turns out the truck was carrying flour, so it was actually the fuel from the cab that was feeding the flames.

We're following this story on Eyewitness News. Watch for updates on air, online and on our mobile news app.

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