By MELISSA DONLEY

The Brunswick News

One man was killed in a fiery tractor-trailer accident on Interstate 95 in Glynn County an hour before daybreak today.

The Georgia State Patrol said the accident, which involved two trucks, occurred around 6 a.m. just south of Exit 29 in the northbound lanes of the interstate.

A flatbed truck carrying roof shingles had blown a tire and was slowing down to get off the interstate at Exit 29, the state patrol said.

A tractor-trailer hauling tomatoes smashed into the rear end of the truck, pushing it about half a mile down the interstate before coming to a stop and strewing shingles all over the road in its wake.

Georgia State Patrol Sgt. Neal Jump said the flatbed truck was traveling at about 50 to 55 mph when it was hit from behind.

The state patrol does not know how fast the tractor-trailer was traveling when it hit the rear of the flatbed.

On impact, the cab of the tractor-trailer burst into flames, trapping the driver, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

"It's not uncommon for it to burst into flames in this type of accident," Jump said.

The state patrol withheld the name of the victim pending notification of next of kin.

Glynn County Coroner Jimmy Durden said the victim was 56 years old and resided in South Carolina.

Jump said the driver of the flatbed was not injured, but was very shaken up.

Two units with the Glynn County Fire Department put out the fire, which had totally engulfed the truck, Jump said.

Firefighters were still trying to put out fires in the tractor-trailer's cargo hold three hours after the accident occurred.

The northbound lanes were closed at Exit 26 and traffic rerouted up U.S. Highway 17 while emergency workers cleared the interstate of debris and shingles.

One lane on the interstate was reopened to northbound traffic around 9:30.

The state patrol said it could be hours before the tomato truck is removed from the highway.