BENSON – The State Highway Patrol is investigating a single vehicle accident and car fire on Interstate 40 in the Elevation community, reported around 3:00am Sunday.
A state trooper was within a mile of the accident and arrived quickly arrived to find a four-door passenger car fully engulfed in flames. There was no one around the car.
Once the flames were extinguished, it was discovered that the car was empty. The occupant or occupants had apparently fled after the eastbound car crashed into the median guardrail.
Approximately 75 feet a guardrail was destroyed, along with the heavily damaged car.
Due to the heat, authorities were forced to stop all traffic in both directions of I-40 while Elevation Fire Department firefighters fought the blaze.
Emergency responders searched the area for victims but found none. Later, an unidentified victim was located near the 325 Exit and transported to an area hospital for treatment.
