Eugenio Salazar Juarez, 30, and Robert Johns, 58, dead after crash, explosion between pickup and fuel truck on U.S. 69 south of Zavalla, Texas

Motorists south of Zavalla can use U.S. 287 north to Highway 59 South in Diboll. Friday, first responders were dispatched to the area of FM 1270, where the fuel tanker and a dually pickup collided. Another alternate route for motorists north of Zavalla is FM 1818 west to Highway 59 South in Diboll. At least two people have died after a wreck involving a fuel truck that exploded after colliding with a pickup truck on U.S. Highway 69, south of Zavalla. The Colmesneil Fire Department was also called to the scene with their 900 gallon water tanker.

The Texas Department of Public Safety says the accident happened shortly before dawn Friday on U.S. 69 just south of Zavalla (zuh-VAL'-uh). DPS Trooper David Hendry says preliminary information indicates the tanker truck was southbound when the northbound pickup truck crossed over and hit the bigger rig head-on. The accident led to a huge fire that burned both vehicles and shut down U.S. 69. Hendry says the fire was put out by late Friday morning. Fraffic was being rerouted as crews worked to clear the wreckage from the site, about 125 miles northeast of Houston.