Traffic Alert: 1 dead, SB I-35E shut down in Carrollton after fiery crash

A portion of a major highway remains closed Wednesday morning following a deadly tanker truck crash and explosion late Tuesday night, according to police.Carrollton firefighters responded to the southbound lanes of Interstate 35E at Dickerson Parkway, just south of the President George Bush Turnpike, around 11 p.m.First responders found that a commercial tanker truck hauling fuel had slammed into a highway barrier and a utility pole, triggering an explosion. The semi-truck was completely engulfed in flames when crews arrived. Firefighters later discovered a victim who had died in the wreckage.The cause of the crash remains unclear, and an investigation is underway.The explosion has triggered widespread morning gridlock. All southbound lanes of I-35E in Carrollton are completely shut down, and the closure is also heavily impacting both eastbound and westbound lanes of the President George Bush Turnpike (PGBT).Crews are using heavy-duty wreckers to remove the charred remains of the tanker. Officials noted that the extended closure is necessary to clean up a substantial hazardous fuel spill and repair badly damaged retaining walls and infrastructure.The cleanup is expected to continue until at least 9 a.m., with traffic being diverted onto the turnpike. Nearby detour routes are heavily backed up as the morning commute peaks. FOX 4 Traffic Expert Chip Waggoner advises motorists looking to avoid major delays to bypass the area entirely or use the express lanes.