POTTER - Authorities released the name of the semi-tractor-trailer driver who passed away in a single-vehicle accident on Interstate 80 near Potter Saturday night.

Cheyenne County Attorney Paul Schaub says Mohammad Pirzad, 42, of Buffalo Grove, Ill. was hauling hazardous materials in a semi-tractor-trailer on the westbound lanes when he diverted from the road onto the grass shoulder at 70 mph. According to a witness of the accident, at one point both the semi-tractor and trailer were traveling on the grass outside of the shoulder of the road. 

The witness then advised authorities the semi-tractor-trailer turned sharply back onto I-80 which caused the vehicle to tip onto the passenger side at mile marker 40, blocking both westbound lanes. No brake lights were seen at the time of the crash. The witness and another person who stopped at the scene of the accident attempted to rescue the driver by breaking through the windshield. They advised 911 dispatch the driver of the 18-wheeler appeared to be deceased.

The Cheyenne County Sheriff's office confirmed Pirzad died at the scene. Pirzad died due to massive blunt force trauma due to the motor vehicle accident.  

Sheriff Adam Frerichs says I-80 was closed until approximately 4 a.m. Sunday due to accident clean-up and the hazardous materials involved. The hazardous materials included a variety of chemicals, such as acetone, acetonitrile, isopropanol, ethanol and ammonia. Reports indicate the chemicals were contained to the accident site and the site is safe. 

The Sidney Volunteer Fire Department, Potter Volunteer Fire Department, Regional West Medical Center EMS (ambulance), the Cheyenne County Sheriff’s Office, Nebraska State Patrol, Region 21 Emergency Management, Nebraska Department of Roads and the Nebraska State Patrol Hazardous Materials Team all responded to the scene.