Troopers: 1 killed in head-on crash involving 18-wheeler in York County

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YORK COUNTY, S.C. — Authorities said one person was killed Thursday morning in a crash in York County.

The head-on collision between a truck and an 18-wheeler happened around 5 a.m. on Highway 161, near Crossland Road.

Emergency officials told Channel 9 that the 18-wheeler caught fire after the crash and that there was also a fuel spill.

The ruptured fuel tank spilled burning diesel fuel onto the road.

"I looked out and I see the truck was crossways in the road, and by the time I got my clothes on and everything, he was on fire,” neighbor Arthur Pruett said

Jacquelyn Reeves saw the fire, too.

"Big, bright and kinda scary,” Reeves said while describing the fire.

Troopers said the driver of the pickup truck, 27-year-old Matthew Biggers, crossed the center line and was killed in the crash.

Neighbors told Channel 9 they saw a fireball as the 18-wheeler burst into flames.

"I was hoping that nobody got hurt in it,” Reeves said. “It's terrible to hear that someone was killed."

The trucker was not hurt, but his rig was burned beyond recognition.

"It's just terrible because, see those crosses there yonder, that's where someone else just got killed," Pruett said.

The crosses Pruett pointed to stand at the site of another head-on crash in September, when a 59-year-old woman was killed.

That memorial sits outside Jesse Helms' bike shop.

"You look out there and you think about someone dying out there, and it ain't cool,” Helms said. “You don't want to think of somebody dying right there in front of your house or your business or nothing like that."

No other details have been released. Highway 160 was closed for nearly five hours while troopers investigated.

Check back with wsoctv.com for updates on this story.

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