Driver escapes burning tractor-trailer

DUVAL COUNTY, Fla. — A tractor-trailer driver escaped from his burning truck early Tuesday morning on Jacksonville's Westside.

Fire officials said the truck caught fire and it spread quickly.

Alexandria Hradil got a disturbing phone call from her fiancé at 4:30 a.m.

"He said his truck blew up," Hradil said. "I'm still half asleep trying to to figure out what is going on."

Brandon Nelson was taking a break from driving across the country delivering goods. He decided to stop and sleep at a shopping center parking lot on Normandy Boulevard just east of Lenox Avenue because it is close to where Hradil lives.

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"I was sleeping and I felt heat by my head. So I woke up and I look over and it was on fire," Nelson said.

Nelson was able to escape through the passenger-side door before the truck was engulfed in flames.

Hradil says she is just happy her fiancé got out of this burning truck alive.

Nelson told Action News his company is sending him a new truck so he can get back to work within a few hours. He also is responsible for calling a tow truck out to the scene to remove this vehicle.

The State Fire Marshal is investigating the fire.

WJAX