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APPLE VALLEY – All lanes of the I-15 North near Dale Evans Parkway were shut down after a Thursday morning collision led to both vehicles catching fire. At around 4:00 a.m. Apple Valley Fire Protection District firefighters and the California Highway Patrol responded to the collision between a semi tractor-trailer and a pickup truck with trailer hauling multiple race cars.

Initial reporting parties reported seeing fire, but were unable to determine the origin. Soon after additional reports flooded into dispatchers reporting that the semi tractor-trailer failed to reduce his speed and hit the back of the pickup truck with trailer. The Freightliner was driving northbound at approximately 75 miles per hour at the time of the collision CHP officials said. It slammed into the back of a slower moving fifth-wheel trailer, which was being pulled by a Chevy pickup truck. The semi-tractor trailer after hitting the back of the fifth-wheel then hit the center median wall.

The semi tractor trailer burst into flames and the fifth-wheel pulled over ahead and also became fully engulfed. Several explosions from the semi were reported by firefighters at the scene.

A SIGAlert, closing all lanes was issued at 4:52 a.m. The #3 lane was reopened at around 8:08 a.m. All occupants of the vehicles were able to self-extricate and no injuries were reported as a result of the collision. The cause of the collision remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol. Alcohol and/or drugs are not believed to be a factor in the collision, but preliminary investigation shows speed may have been a contributing factor.