Traffic came to a standstill on Loop 303 in Peoria early Tuesday morning after a commercial truck trailer loaded with candy bars caught fire, forcing a temporary closure of the westbound lanes. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) initiated the closure at 43rd Avenue as firefighters and authorities worked to extinguish the flames and clear the wreckage.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) reported that the fire began in the right-rear wheel area of the truck near milepost 137. The driver, hearing a loud popping noise, quickly pulled over and disconnected the trailer from the truck tractor to prevent further damage. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
However, the incident led to quite the unusual sight: dozens of melted Twix bars were left along the roadside, creating a sticky mess. The chocolate, exposed to both the flames and the Arizona heat, added a humorous yet frustrating element to the cleanup.
As authorities worked to manage the situation, ADOT directed drivers to exit the freeway at 43rd Avenue to avoid further delays. The westbound lanes remained blocked for several hours as cleanup crews addressed both the fire’s aftermath and the melted candy.
Traffic resumed later in the morning after the lanes were reopened, but the incident caused major delays during the early rush hour. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and no additional details have been released.
