BENSON, ARIZONA — Part of Interstate 10 reopened in Benson after a rollover crash involving a tractor-trailer late Sunday night that required a helicopter transport for the driver, with responders saying preliminary information indicates a possible medical emergency may have caused the truck to cross the median into westbound traffic before rolling over.

^{Photo credit: Mescal-J6 Fire District}

The crash happened late Sunday night, December 28, in the westbound lanes of I-10 at milepost 293. The Mescal-J6 Fire District was among the agencies that responded.

Mescal’s Fire Chief said that by the time crews arrived, the driver had already been helped out of the truck and was conscious. The driver was airlifted to a Tucson hospital for treatment due to the nature of the injuries and out of an abundance of caution.

Mescal-J6 Fire District said it responded to a rollover motor vehicle accident involving a semi-truck, with the driver initially reported as trapped inside the cab. The department said heavy returning holiday traffic and a construction zone at the Empirita bridge made access difficult, requiring crews to walk more than a quarter mile through stopped traffic to reach the scene.

Upon arrival, responders found that patient care had already been started by Arizona Ambulance, whose crew was returning from a patient transport to a Tucson hospital and stopped to help. Mescal officials said the driver remained conscious at the scene, but due to the nature of the injuries and out of an abundance of caution, the driver was transported by helicopter to Tucson for further evaluation.

Preliminary information indicated the driver may have been traveling eastbound on Interstate 10 when a possible medical emergency occurred, causing the vehicle to cross the center median into westbound traffic and roll over.

Mescal-J6 Fire District said the incident served as a reminder for drivers to slow down, remain vigilant, and wear seatbelts. The fire district thanked responding partners including AZDPS Highway Patrol, Healthcare Innovations – HCI Ambulance, the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office, Arizona LifeLine, and the Arizona Department of Transportation.

The investigation remains ongoing.

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