By Daniel Johnson-Kim, Editor in Chief

Physical Resources’ maintenance pickup truck caught fire and was destroyed near Crutcher Scott Field on Thursday.

The fire began when the utility trailer that was connected to a high-pressure washer malfunctioned and caught fire around 1:45 p.m., according to the Abilene Police Department. ACU grounds’ crew worker Johnny Lopez was using the washer to clean a section of the Lunsford Trail parallel to Ambler Avenue.

ACU Police Chief Jimmy Ellison said Lopez quickly responded and drove the truck off the Lunsford Trail and into an empty area in the parking lot in front of Crutcher Scott Field. Lopez exited the truck, right as the fire spread from the attached trailer to the pickup.

“The truck became fully engulfed in flames from the trailer fire,” Ellison said. “As far as fires go, this was a big one.”

The Abilene Fire Department responded to the fire and put out the blaze, but the truck was destroyed.