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One brother is dead and another was sent to the hospital after the semitrailers they were driving into Albuquerque from California collided on I-40.

The brothers, from Fresno, Calif., were driving semitrailers into Albuquerque on Sunday about 9 a.m. when Nandeep Singh Aujla smashed his semitrailer into the back of his brother Gurdeep Singh Aujla's semitrailer near the 141 mile marker near the Route 66 Casino, State Police Lt. Rick Anglada said.

Anglada said it isn't clear why the semitrailers collided but authorities suspect Nandeep Aujla might have fallen asleep.

After colliding, the vehicles traveled together for a few miles before they came to a stop, Anglada said.

Nandeep Aujla's vehicle in the rear caught on fire first, then the fire spread to Gurdeep Aujla's vehicle.

"I'm not sure if he (Nandeep Aujla) was killed on impact or in the fire," Anglada said.

Gurdeep Aujla attempted to break the truck's windows to save his brother.

"They couldn't get to him in time," Anglada said.

Gurdeep Aujla, 30, suffered minor burns and scratches during the rescue attempt.

He and his passenger, Singh Jagmohan, 45, were taken to the University of New Mexico Hospital, Bernalillo County Fire Department spokesman Lt. Paul Chavez said. They are no longer at the hospital, hospital spokeswoman Cindy Foster said this morning.

Chavez said the brothers had been headed eastbound and were hauling fruit in the semitrailers.

Gurdeep Aujla told police that the brothers had slept at Route 66 Casino and left there shortly before the crash, Anglada said.

The fruit trucks belonged to No Limit Transport Inc. of Fresno, Calif. These trucks were leased to the Aujla brothers through their company Aujla Transport, Anglada said.

Nandeep Aujla's father-in-law, Tim Alusia, said the family is searching for details surrounding the crash, but is having difficulties due to language barriers. Aujla's wife, Stephanie, was distraught over her husband's death, Alusia said.