NEBRASKA CITY – A 34-year-old truck driver from Avoca escaped safely from a freight truck that caught fire while hauling dirt on the OPPD Road south of Nebraska City.

Nebraska City Fire and Rescue responded to South 70th and L Road on Wednesday morning and found the cab of the truck on fire.

Driver Nick Pollard of Avoca described the incident.

 Pollard: “Came down the hill loaded and lost air pressure and got around the hill and smelled some burning. Got out and popped the hood and underneath the firewall on the engine compartment was caught on fire.”

He grabbed a fire extinguisher and there were four others from other trucks that stopped,  but they were unable to extinguish the fire.

 

Final Grade Construction is hauling dirt for work at the Omaha Public Power District power plant south of Nebraska City.