An Arizona truck driver lost his life in a traffic accident and fire Sunday on eastbound U.S. Highway 36 in Linn County.
The highway patrol identified the victim as 32-year-old Orlando Martinez of Avondale, Arizona, who was pronounced dead at the scene at 12 noon, following the accident and fire that was listed in the report as occurring about 7:45 Sunday morning.
The highway patrol said the Freightliner truck traveled off the right side of Highway 36, struck an embankment, overturned and caught fire one-half mile east of the Marceline junction.
Martinez was not using a safety device and the truck was demolished.
Assisting the highway patrol at the scene were members of its major crash team; Linn County Sheriff’s Department, Marceline Police, Linn County ambulance and four fire departments – Marceline, Bucklin, Brookfield, and Laclede.
