Truck driver injured in tractor

LENOIR CITY, Tenn. WBIR.COM— A driver was taken to the hospital after a tractor trailer caught fire on I-40 Eastbound in Lenoir City Thursday morning.

The interstate was completely blocked after the fire was first reported at 1:20 a.m. The incident was initially investigated by the Loudon County Sheriff's Office before being turned over to the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

According to THP, a CMV fully loaded with liquid laundry soap was travelling east on I-40 in Loudon County when its 54-year-old driver, Pavel Pintea, pulled over to inspect the vehicle for an unknown issue. While attempting to remove a left rear tire from the CMV, the tire exploded and caught fire, THP said.

THP said when the tire exploded, Pintea was struck in the face and was later taken to the hospital for treatment. Their condition is unknown at this time.

A passenger, 56-year-old Ana Pintea, was also in the vehicle at the time of the fire but suffered no injuries, THP said.

I-40 Eastbound was down to one lane on Thursday near the Lenoir City exit. The roadway reopened around 8:20 a.m. According to THP, no charges have been filed.