A tanker truck driver was airlifted to a hospital after crashing into a slow moving motorist on Interstate 40 in North Carolina on Tuesday morning.
The accident happened just before 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 29th, along eastbound Interstate 40 in Sampson County, North Carolina.
According to ABC 11, a tanker truck hauling fuel crashed into a slow moving motorist, causing the semi truck to overturn. Two oncoming tractor trailers were unable to completely avoid the wrecked tanker truck, but only caused minor damage to the fuel-hauling semi truck. A pickup truck driver then swerved to avoid the overturned truck but was unsuccessful and collided with the tanker truck. This collision caused the tanker truck to catch fire. A box truck driver then swerved to avoid the crash, skidded into the median cables, and came to a rest in the median.
The tanker truck fire caused by a crash with the slow moving motorist damaged the roadway and injured the truck driver. The truck driver was airlifted to a hospital for treatment of his injuries.
Firefighters worked to extinguish the fire, which eventually caused an explosion.
“The ground was on fire,” said Faison Fire Chief Lee Kennedy to WNCT. “Vehicles were on fire. The road was on fire… You see it on TV and in movies, but it’s nothing. You don’t go out and discard the water when the fire is so hot, your water is evaporating before it gets to the fire.”
Officials warn that the roadway will remain closed as crews work to repair the roadway and clear the wreckage. The eastbound side of I-40 has an estimated reopening of Wednesday afternoon.
“The North Carolina Regional Hazmat Team and Eastern Environmental Services are in the process of cleaning up the scene. After they are complete, all vehicles will be able to be removed from the scene. The eastbound lane of I-40 from exit 348 to exit 355 is expected to be shut down until approximately noon tomorrow due to damage that needs to be repaired to the roadway. NCDOT has a detour established and is clearly marked with electronic road signs,” a statement read.
A detour is in place starting at Exit 348. Drivers are instructed to take the exit and take eastbound Suttontown road to Highway 50, then take Highway 50 south to US 117 Connector to Interstate 40 again.
