Lawton man dies in fiery Texas crash

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Authorities say a Lawton man died in a fiery crash in Texas when the tractor-trailer rig he was driving slammed into a bridge earlier this week. <br/><br/>Bowie, Texas, police Investigator

Sunday, February 19th 2006, 4:23 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Authorities say a Lawton man died in a fiery crash in Texas when the tractor-trailer rig he was driving slammed into a bridge earlier this week.

Bowie, Texas, police Investigator Wes Wallace says 33 year-old Daniel Allen was heading north on US Highway 287 when the vehicle left the roadway and struck the bridge.

Wallace says the cab of the truck, which was hauling carbon material to make tires, exploded and disintegrated down the slope of the highway. The truck was operated by Taylor Express.

The top of the truck cab and part of the trailer were sheared away. Officials say the explosion created a massive plume of fire and smoke that was fanned by high winds.

Allen was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, which happened about 7:20 PM on Wednesday.