Pennsylvania Turnpike workers coming to the aid of the driver of a disabled pickup rolled up Thursday to exploding rounds of ammunition, an agency official said.
"They took cover. They were alarmed, to say the least," said turnpike spokesman Tom Fox.
Fox said the unidentified westbound motorist pulled over about 10:30 a.m. near the Beaver Valley interchange in Big Beaver after seeing smoke coming from the engine of his pickup truck. A short time later, the pickup was on fire, Fox said.
"Ammunition in the back of the truck started exploding," Fox said.
It was unknown how many and what type of rounds exploded and whether the motorist would be charged. State police assigned to patrol the turnpike could not be reached.
Turnpike workers responding to the fire quickly stopped westbound traffic until firefighters could put out the fire. No one was injured and no property damaged, other than the motorist's truck, Fox said.
The turnpike reopened about 11:30 a.m., Fox said.
Copyright 2012 - The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
