By admin 
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – A couple traveling on Interstate 10 in Tucson on Wednesday said a truck driver’s final maneuver likely saved their lives during a fatal wreck that shut down the highway for hours.
Read more Arizona man accused of kidnapping Utah girl had history of sex crime claims
The Arizona Department of Public Safety said a tractor-trailer car hauler was traveling eastbound near Valencia Road when it blew a tire. The vehicle struck a guardrail, rolled into the median, and caught fire.
Amanda and Raymond Cota said they were headed home when they saw the tractor-trailer’s front passenger-side tire blow out.
Deadly rollover crash on Interstate 10 tests Tucson Fire’s tools
“We were right at the tire of the semi, it was right by our driver’s window when it popped,” Amanda said. “And then he just started veering towards us, and I saw him grab the wheel to correct the blowout.”
She said the driver steered the truck away from their vehicle and into the concrete median, where it immediately caught fire.
“The truck just started flipping after that,” Amanda said.
Officials confirmed the hauler was loaded with 10 vehicles, including several EVs. According to the Cotas, the presence of those electric vehicles caused the fire to intensify rapidly, punctuated by a series of sudden explosions.
“You just kept hearing explosions, after explosion, after explosion,” Amanda said. “And then the fire just kept getting bigger and bigger.”
The driver, who was the only person in the truck, died at the scene. DPS has not identified the driver as of Thursday night.
Read more Deadly rollover crash on Interstate 10 tests Tucson Fire’s tools
The Cotas, who have three children, believe the outcome would have been different if the driver had not steered away from them.
“That just flashed before our eyes as not making it home to our babies,” Amanda said.
The eastbound lanes of I-10 remained closed until Thursday morning while crews cleared the wreckage and managed the fire.
The couple said they would like to thank the driver’s family and express their gratitude for his final actions.
“I thank him,” Raymond Cota said. “Because if it weren’t for those maneuvers, I don’t think we would be here talking to you right now.”
“My prayers go out to this family at this time of grieving,” Amanda said.
Are you streaming 13 News?
Watch a free live stream of Tucson Now and 13 News at TucsonNow.Live.
Be sure to download the free Tucson Now app, which you can find on Apple and Google.
If you are using a desktop computer, you can use your mobile device to scan the QR code below.
Read more Scorched but standing: North Rim to reopen after the Dragon Bravo Fire
You can submit your breaking news or weather images here.