BIG CREEK — Authorities have released more headlines about a twist of fate that claimed the life of a Texas man working as a contractor at a local mine. The twist of fate occurred Thursday night near the intersection of County Club Lane and Highwater Road. .
Eric Rodriguez, in his 25s, was identified as the deceased driver after the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office asked for the public’s help in identifying other missing people in the area.
Capt. Seth Green reported that Rodriguez’s truck crashed into a tree at what appeared to be top speed. The accident is being investigated for possible alcohol involvement.
“This is a high-speed crash in a 25 mph zone,” Green said.
Shoshone County Fire Districts 1 and 2 extinguished the fire, which had spread to nearby trees within a 25-foot radius of the crash site.
Fire District 1 Chief John Miller described the intensity of the fire: “It had been burning and burning for some time. I know it’s hot and dry, but he managed to succeed in the treetops.
The vehicle, tentatively known as a newer GMC 1500 pickup truck, suffered severe damage. “The frame is still there, but the doors melted and disappeared. We didn’t initially know where the doors were on the car,” Miller said.
Sheriff Holly Lindsey insisted on the importance of immediate identity to notify the family before the news spreads on social media.
Miller praised the coordinated efforts of all first responders at the scene. “We were looking to put out a chimney and we didn’t know if the driver had crashed and fled or if he had been ejected from the vehicle, so everyone was looking to put out the chimney to make it safe. The fire crews and authorities did a smart job and handled everything very well and quickly,” he said.