BIG-RIG COLLISION TIES UP 58 TRAFFIC DRIVER BURNED IN CRASH SETTING 2 TRUCKS AFLAME.

Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer

TEHACHAPI - Two big rigs burst into flames and a truck driver was seriously burned after his runaway truck caused a collision that shut down eastbound lanes of Highway 58 for nearly eight hours, officials said.

Authorities are investigating why Jose Macias' big rig hauling plate glass drifted onto the highway's shoulder early Tuesday, then sideswiped another big rig and hit the rear of a third.

``It's one of those things that we really have to look at,'' said California Highway Patrol Officer Steve Huntsaker. ``Could he have fallen asleep? Inattention, anything. He claims that a tire blew out but it's still under investigation.''

Macias, 25, of Madera suffered second- and third-degree burns as well as other injuries described as major.

The collision occurred about 2 a.m. west of the Mill Street overcrossing in Tehachapi.

Macias' 1999 Freightliner was traveling east about 55 mph when for unknown reasons it drifted onto the shoulder, CHP officers said.

Traveling along the shoulder, the truck hit a trailer being pulled by a 2001 Freightliner driven by Victor Milligan, 75, of Las Vegas.

Macias' truck tore that trailer open and continued along the entire right side of the second truck and trailer.

Macias' truck then hit the open trailer of a 2000 Peterbuilt driven by David Summers, 56, of Apache Junction, Ariz., tearing that trailer open and spilling cantaloupes across the roadway.

Macias' and Summers' trucks both caught fire. Summers was able to get out of his truck before he was burned.

Huntsaker did not know how Macias got out of his burning truck.

He was flown by helicopter to Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield.

Neither Summers nor Milligan was injured. All three men were wearing their seat belts at the time of the collision.

One eastbound lane was reopened just after 9 a.m.