Tippecanoe County-Today at approximately 2:02 a.m. on I-65 southbound near the 178 mile marker (that is just south of the West Lafayette exit) a semi loaded with dog food caught on fire shutting down the right lane of the interstate.
Preliminary investigation by Trooper Kent Wainscott alleges that the white 2013 Peterbuilt owned by US Express Leasing Inc. out of Chattanooga, TN was being driven by Philip R. Pagliari, 54 years old from Ft. Walton Beach, FL and was pulling a 2007 Wabash National Trailer loaded with dog food. Pagliari was advised by another semi by citizen band radio that smoke was coming from his trailer axle area. When he pulled over to check, a fire had already started and soon the trailer was engulfed by fire. Pagliari was able to disconnect the Peterbuilt from the trailer and pulled it up so it would not be consumed by the fire.
Battle Ground Fire and Rescue arrived to put out the fire but not before the trailer and its contents were a complete loss. Cleanup of the area is still underway and the right lane will be shut down for possibly two more hours to clean up the wreckage.
Assisting at the scene are Indiana State Police Sergeants Dan Ziegler and Kim Riley, Master Trooper Bill Brooks, Trooper Darrick Scott, Indiana State Police Commercial Motor Vehicle Trooper Larry Mote Jr, Indiana Department of Transportation and Jim’s Wrecker Service out of Lafayette, IN.
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