Playa del Carmen, Q.R. — Residents in an area of southeast Playa del Carmen were left without electricity Thursday night. A double-long semi passing their residential community collapsed a set of high voltage lines and burst into flames.
Municipal police were at the scene of the fire late Thursday night on Playa del Carmen Boulevard at the southern entrance to Playacar. The driver of the semi is reported to have accidently swerved off the road and into the base of a CFE pole.
When he hit the base, he collapsed the pole and a set of high-voltage overhead wires that started a fire. The cab of the semi began to burn and quickly spread to the first trailer. The fire also spread to surrounding vegetation.
The semi was found burning in an entrance lane into Playacar. The driver managed to get out on his own and escaped without serious injury. He was evaluated at the scene by paramedics and not transferred to hospital.
Emergency services were notified of the accident by passing motorists. Firemen and Civil Protection were at the site attempting to control the fire from continuing to spread. Playa del Carmen Transit redirected traffic around the site.
During the fire, a set of overhead lines were affected both collapsing from the hit against the pole and the fire itself.
Authorities were at the scene again early Friday morning where they began the task of removing the semi. Work was slowed since the trailer was found still smoldering. Municipal Police remained at the scene while the unit was towed.
The driver of the double-long unit was traveling from Tulum to Playa del Carmen at the time of the accident. He was reportedly transporting food for a commercial establishment. There was no comment on possible charges.
