Semi’s tire blowout leads to an accident and two small fires in the median of Highway 63

NEAR LA PLATA, Mo. — An unusual series of events led to an accident and caused two small grass fires in the median of Highway 63.

It happened Tuesday at 1 p.m. on Highway 63, about four and a half miles south of La Plata.

A Missouri police officer at the scene told KTVO that an 18-wheeler driven by an unnamed driver from Shawano, Wisconsin, was southbound on 63 when he suffered a blowout on a rear tire.

The officer said some type of embers, possibly wheel bearings, landed in the median and caused two small grass fires close together.

La Plata Fire and Rescue was called to the scene, but police extinguished the fire with fire extinguishers before firefighters arrived.

The blowout caused the driver to lose control of the large vehicle.

The trailer, loaded with large bales of corn stalks, then fell off its right shoulder into the mud.

The resistance caused him to become loose from the tractor and fall on his side in the ditch.

The tractor remained upright.

The driver was not injured in the incident.

No other vehicles were involved.