Car hauler catches fire on I-94

A semi hauling vehicles caught fire on Interstate 94 near Michigan City on Monday morning, damaging four new trucks.

According to Indiana State Police, emergency crews responded to a fire just after 8 a.m. along westbound I-94 about 1.5 miles west of the Michigan City exit. Police said the driver -- James Boyer, 52, of Jackson, Mich. -- noticed smoke coming from the rear tires of his 1999 Volvo semi-car hauler, pulled over to the outer shoulder and saw the hauler's rear tires were on fire.

Police said the semi is owned by Allied Systems of Atlanta and was hauling six 2012 Ford pickup trucks from Dearborn, Mich. to Kansas City, Mo. One of the trucks was destroyed and three others had smoke or fire damage.

The trucks ranged in value from $40,000 to $46,000 each.

Boyer was not injured in the fire, police said.

The Indiana Department of Transportation, LaPorte County Sheriff's Department, Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division and firefighters from Westville, Chesterton and Coolspring Township all assisted at the scene of the fire, Indiana State Police said.