Truck driver Charles Ward Miller, 56, killed in multi-vehicle wreck caused by blown tire on Interstate 59 South in Birmingham, Alabama

At least one person is dead after a crash involving five vehicles and an overturned 18-wheeler in Birmingham. All lanes of Interstate 59 South is closed at the Arkadelphia Road exit, according to police. Social media photos show interstate signs knocked down by the crash. Additional information was not immediately available.

A blown tired on an SUV launched the chain reaction that led to the death of an Alabama truck driver on Interstate 59 in Birmingham Thursday afternoon, authorities said. Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates said Miller was driving an International tractor trailer. The driver of a Ford Escort also traveling south told police she saw the Explorer's tire blow and the Explorer lost control and hit tractor trailer. The sign fell on the roof of the tractor trailer, and across all lanes of the interstate. The crash shut down the interstate for more than six hours, but by 9:40 p.m., all lanes had been reopened.

Driver of 18-wheeler that crashed on I-59 identified Posted: Updated: The driver of an 18-wheeler who was in a wreck Thursday on I-59 southbound at Arkadelphia Road has died. Miller's 18-wheeler crashed into an interstate sign and knocked it into the southbound lanes, shutting down the interstate for several hours on Thursday. Birmingham police had traffic in the southbound lanes cross the median and move into the northbound lanes. The Jefferson County Coroner's office has identified the man as Charles Ward Miller, 56, from the Ethelville community in Pickens County. It appears that the 18-wheeler swerved to miss the car, but hit the large sign that goes over the interstate and knocked it over.

This was Miller’s first run for Jeff Chism LLC, hauling paper rolls. The company is based out of Columbus, Mississippi, and he was transporting his cargo from Tennessee to Mississippi.