by Jessica Taloney
Published: Mon, May 11, 2009 - 4:42 pm CST
Last Updated: Mon, May 11, 2009 - 4:55 pm CST
A South Alabama truck driver is dead after he crashed through a guard rail and fell nearly 30 feet off Interstate 65.Alabama State Troopers identified the driver as David Bentley of Greenville.
According to witnesses, Bentley was hauling coils of steel when he lost control of his truck around 10:15 Monday morning. The crash happened in the northbound lanes of I-65 near mile marker 64.
Ray Zalce, a motorist who witnessed the crash, says after impacting the guard rail, the truck exploded in mid-air.
"The tanks blew," said Zalce, who said it looked like "a big fire ball."
Zalce says several people tried to rescue Bentley but couldn't find him.
"We searched for him. We figured he was in the cab, and that's where he was," he said.
The northbound lanes of I-65 were closed for several hours. As of late Monday afternoon, only one northbound lane had re-opened.
Lt. John Malone tells News Five investigators have not yet determined what caused the crash.
Slowgoing On I-65 Northbound
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