Witness: Fiery crash on I-74 in Shelby Co. "shook the house"

Crews have removed what was left of the semi involved in the accident along Interstate 74.  The identity of the driver is still a mystery. An autopsy is set for Friday to hopefully figure out who was behind the wheel during the accident that shut down the entire interstate.

It all started with a loud explosion, a sound Lora Anderson had never heard before.

"It really shook the house," said Anderson. "It shook the glasses in my cabinets so you know it is pretty loud."

She ran to her window and could not believe what she saw.

"Then I looked out my kitchen window and I saw nothing but flames," said Anderson.

Anderson then called 911.  She said the smoke from the burning diesel fuel filled the sky. 

"It was just black, you could not see anywhere," said Anderson.  "It was just terrible."

According to Indiana State Police, the driver of a semi gradually moved from the right lane to the left.  A witness said the semi driver may have been asleep at the wheel.  The semi driver nudged another car, then overcorrected.

"The semi tanker flipped up in the air and landed on its side on the roadway," said Rich Myers, Indiana State Police Sergeant.  "It immediately burst into flames."

The driver died almost instantly.

"Everything was totally burned up beyond recognition," said Sgt. Myers.

The stretch of I-74 was in such bad shape it took several hours to repair it.

"It was a hot one," said Sgt. Myers.  "The road is completely used up in that area.  It is almost down to rock it was so hot."

The driver of the other car involved, 71-year-old Tharen White of Carmel, pulled over to the shoulder.  The car he was driving was also burned, but White was able to make it out okay.  White told Fox59 he is just very thankful to be alive.