More details released on fatal crash, vehicle fire that melted truck in Big Creek
A fatal crash and subsequent vehicle fire Thursday night left few signs as to the driver's identity and obscured the make and model of the truck until a car part ejected from the vehicle had a number that shed some light on what kind of truck it was.
Photo courtesy of Jim's Towing
An image of the area in Big Creek where the fatal vehicle crash and fire took place.
BIG CREEK — Authorities have released additional details about a fiery crash that claimed the life of a Texas man working as a contractor at a local mine. The crash occurred Thursday night near the intersection of County Club Lane and Highwater Road.
Eric Rodriguez, approximately 25 years old, was identified as the deceased driver after the Shoshone County Sheriff's Office sought public assistance in identifying missing persons in the area.
Capt. Seth Green reported that Rodriguez's truck struck a tree in what appeared to be a high rate of speed. The crash is under investigation for possible alcohol involvement.
"It was a high-speed crash in a 25-mph zone," Green said.
Shoshone County Fire Districts No. 1 and 2 extinguished the blaze, which had spread to nearby trees within a 25-foot radius of the crash site.
Fire District No. 1 Chief John Miller described the intensity of the fire: "It had been burning and burning hot for some time. I know it's hot and dry, but it managed to reach high into the trees."
The vehicle, tentatively identified as a newer GMC 1500 pickup, was severely damaged. "The frame is still there, but the doors have melted and vanished. We didn't know where the car doors were, initially," Miller explained.
Sheriff Holly Lindsey emphasized the importance of swift identification to inform the family before news spread on social media.
Miller praised the coordinated efforts of all first responders at the scene. "We were trying to put out a fire and had no idea if the driver crashed and ran off or was ejected away from the vehicle, so everyone was trying to put out the fire to just make the area safe to start looking. The fire crews and law enforcement did a really good job of handling everything well and quickly," he said.
An image of the area in Big Creek where the fatal vehicle crash and fire took place.