One confirmed dead in fiery big-rig crash on Lakeville Highway

The driver of a big rig truck died Wednesday in a fiery crash on Lakeville Highway after the vehicle drifted off the road and slammed into a tree, CHP officials said.

The 11:45 a.m. crash shut down the rural thoroughfare east of Petaluma. Officers directed traffic away from the area to alternative routes such as Highway 121 to the east and Highway 101 to the west.

Officials estimated the road could remain closed until at least 2:30 p.m.

The truck crashed just south of Old Lakeville Road No. 2, an area where rows of eucalyptus trees form a tunnel along the highway.

The driver was heading south at about 30 mph when, according to witnesses, the vehicle drifted off the road and hit the tree, CHP Sgt. Alan Capurro said. The truck caught fire, which quickly engulfed at least two trees and spread across a dry, grassy field.

The driver was unable to get out of the truck, which was destroyed by the fire, Capurro said.

Cal Fire spokeswoman Suzie Blankenship said firefighters quickly stopped the forward progress of the vegetation blaze. Additional details like how far it spread weren't immediately available.

A seven-mile portion of Lakeville Highway remained closed between Stage Gulch Road and Highway 37 as of 4 p.m.

You can reach Staff Writer Julie Johnson at 521-5220 or julie.johnson@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @jjpressdem.