The Keene Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to mutual aid the Alvarado Fire Department on a major MVA with fire on I-35 South of U. S. 67 in Alvarado, Texas at 21:24 on August 9, 2004.
A Isuzu Rodeo SUV was traveling the wrong way on I-35 North bound. It had struck three vehicles in a half mile before hitting a semi head on and rupturing the trucks fuel tank.
The two full time firemen for the Alvarado Fire Department responded with the rescue truck and began to extract the driver of the SUV. Their volunteer firefighters arrived with their engine and began attacking the fully involved semi. The Keene Volunteer Fire Department arrived and assisted fighting the semi fire. Mutual aid was also provided by the Grandview Volunteer Fire Department and the Venus Volunteer Fire Department.
A driver of a semi immediately behind the accident stated the SUV traveling the wrong way hit the left front of the semi then swung around and ruptured the left side fuel tank which immediately erupted into flames with the right side fuel tank bursting into flames a few seconds later.
The driver of the semi, his wife and dog opened the left door to escape but the fire came into the cab. He immediately shut it and started out the right door but the right fuel tank had exploded. So, they both jumped through the flames with their dog and were not harmed.
It took over thirty minutes to extract the driver of the SUV who was then airlifted to Harris Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth by careflite helicopter.
I-35 was shut completely down for over an hour. The north bound lanes were shut for six additional hours for debris removal.
