1 dead, 1 arrested in Westport after tanker catches fire off Interstate 95

WESTPORT, Connecticut (WABC) -- A tanker truck carrying sewage rolled off Interstate 95 in Westport and burst into flames, killing the truck driver and closing southbound lanes until Thursday morning.

Thomas Patrick Reynolds, 64, of Woodbury, was identified as the victim.

Ramses Taylor Rival, 35, of Stamford, the driver of the other vehicle involved in the crash, was arrested for driving under the influence. He was not injured.

Photo of Rival:

The truck went off I-95 near the Saugatuck Bridge between exits 17 and 18 just after 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Reynolds was driving his truck southbound, just north of Exit 17 in the right lane, approaching the Saugatuck River Bridge. Rival was driving his 2009 Mercedes in the center lane.

The passenger side of Rival's vehicle and the driver's side of Reynolds' truck collided, causing the truck to veer to the right, strike the metal beam guardrail off the right shoulder and flip onto its driver side. The truck then hit a light pole and a tree, and finally caught fire.

Rival's 2009 Mercedes veered to the right and stopped on concrete barrier of the Saugatuck River Bridge.

Reynolds was pronounced dead on the scene.

All lanes were closed in both directions until 10 p.m., when northbound lanes reopened. Southbound lanes reopened just before 6 a.m., after traffic was rerouted at Exit 18.