Update: I-10 collision

On July 24, 2009, at 9:07 a.m., a semi-truck pulling two trailers was traveling eastbound on Interstate 10 when, for an unknown reason, the vehicle veered off the roadway causing the truck to overturn in the right shoulder. The commercial vehicle caught fire immediately. The driver of the semi was deceased on scene.

Driver/Deceased: Shari Wood Linder, 50, of Quinlan, Texas
Co-Driver/Injured: Ricky Keith Linder, 53, of Quinlan, Texas

The truck was carrying automotive products and cleaning products which included aerosol cans.

The fire was so intense it completely engulfed the semi-truck and came in contact with overhead power lines. As a result, Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) Officers closed both the eastbound and westbound lanes of Interstate 10 at Picacho Peak.

The westbound lanes were reopened at 1:09 p.m. and one eastbound lane was re-opened at about 1:30 p.m. All lanes of the interstate were open as of 3:40 p.m.

The truck is owned by Saia Trucking. The Linder’s, who were married, were traveling from Blythe, California to El Paso, Texas. They have been driving together as a team for about ten years.

Ricky Linder remains in stable condition with non life threatening injuries at UMC Tucson.