Propane tanker truck with rookie trainee driver crashes over overpass!!

Tanker crash continues to block La Porte highways as crews burn off propane
KHOU.com staff
Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:56:36 CDT


LA PORTE, Texas -- It will take until at least noon to get Highways 225 and 146 reopened following Tuesday's propane tanker truck crash, city officials in La Porte said.


The 18-wheeler fell off the Highway 146 southbound ramp to Highway 225 West around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. It crashed some 25 feet to the ground , and two men in the cab were taken to area hospitals by Life Flight.


The wreck shut down both Highways 146 and 225, backing up traffic for hours. Highway 146 opened for a few hours overnight but was shut down again on Wednesday morning.
As of 8:45 a.m., all mainlanes of Highways 225 and 146 remained blocked in La Porte as crews continued to burn off the truck's load of propane. The burnoff created a huge flame near the scene of the crash. Officials said even after the propane is gone, the roadway will need to be inspected for damage before Highway 225 can reopen.
KHOU 11's Katherine Whaley advised drivers to use the East Freeway or Spencer Highway as an alternate route.


Many commuters on Tuesday had to wait several hours before they could detour around the closure. The wreckage was a grim sight, especially for another trucker like Zerling Williams.


"No wheels on the tractor or trailer. Give you chills to see something like that," Williams said.


Williams later learned he apparently knew the two men in the cab.


"They are deep in my prayers. I prayed for them already," he said.


Williams himself has 35 years behind the wheel. He works for the same company as the victims - Safeway Transportation out of Louisiana.


There was no early word on what caused the crash, but officials said the person behind the wheel of the truck was actually a trainee. The passenger was said to be a veteran trucker that was instructing the driver.

http://khou.mlnwap.com/article.html#!/52370/1c1683570f9cad2b60718c8c4f2ba688

 

Here's a picture of it....

http://media.khou.com/images/la-porte-big-rig-plummets.jpg

 

Update...the freeways won't be open till 5-6 pm at the earliest today

 

Sucks to be a container hauler in LaPorte today!!!