Driver hospitalized following I-89 dump truck rollover, fire

Vermont State Police say a crash on Interstate 89 south Monday morning sent one person to the hospital and caused major backups.

It happened around 6:45 a.m. on I-89 south in Bolton. Police say a dump truck rolled over and caught fire. They say three bystanders pulled the driver, Austin Wheatley, 19, from the cab of the truck before it exploded. The Brookfield man was taken to the hospital and treated for chest contusions, smoke inhalation and facial lacerations.

The truck is owned by Dubois Construction of Middlesex. Police say speed and impairment do not appear to be contributing factors in the crash.

Witnesses say another car at the scene -- a Toyota sedan -- was also damaged. There was no word from police about the driver of that car.

Police are asking anyone who may have seen what led to the crash to contact them.

Authorities closed both lanes of the Interstate for about two hours and traffic was backed up for a good two miles. The road reopened around 9 a.m.