UPDATE/Mother of killed tanker driver: He loved his job

Tanker over turns in Chicopee MA causing a fire ball

-- A tanker truck carrying thousands of gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel crashed onto at least three other vehicles on Interstate 91 near Chicopee early Friday, causing an explosion and hospitalizing the driver with serious burns.

Bay State Medical Center confirmed that the driver was brought to the Springfield hospital, where officials said he was suffering from burns to more than 60 percent of his body. His name was not released.

Early reports that the truck was carrying jet fuel were erroneous, Chicopee Mayor Michael Bissonette said. He said the truck was carrying 9,000 gallons of gasoline and 3,000 gallons of diesel.

A plume of thick, black smoke from the wreckage could be seen miles away from the accident as fire crews tried to get the blaze under control. Personnel from nearby Westover Air Force base were called on to help quell the flames.

The collision occurred on the northbound side of the highway, near Exit 13A, just after 9:30 a.m. and state emergency officials said three cars were engulfed in flames. The blaze was not brought under control until close to 11 a.m.

Witnesses said the tanker truck rolled off the highway onto several cars below. Some of the occupants leaped out, then ran back to try to rescue others in the vehicles, they said.

"The cab stayed up on the highway, but it was engulfed in flames and it was incredible that several bystanders got out of their cars, as well as two nearby workers, and pulled the driver out of a burning cab. Got him stabilized on the ground until the paramedics could come," Bissonette said.

The accident happened on Center Street under the underpass where Interstate 91 and Interstate 391 intersect. It's called the "Chicopee Curve."

The roadway was shut down in both directions, but by noon the southbound side was re-opened. Bisonette said there were remaining questions about the structural safety of the bridge where the accident occurred that were keeping the northbound side closed.

He added that the crash and fuel spill may have caused environmental issues for the nearby Connecticut River.

There was no word on what caused the crash, but weather advisories were issued in the area early Friday because of late-season snow, sleet and rain.

The driver worked for Abenaqui Carriers of North Hampton, N.H., according to the Associated Press.

A driver for the same company rolled over a fuel tanker in Everett, Mass., in December, sparking a fire that severely damaged several homes and destroyed dozens of cars.
-- A tanker truck carrying thousands of gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel crashed onto at least three other vehicles on Interstate 91 near Chicopee early Friday, causing an explosion and hospitalizing the driver with serious burns.

Bay State Medical Center confirmed that the driver was brought to the Springfield hospital, where officials said he was suffering from burns to more than 60 percent of his body. His name was not released.

Early reports that the truck was carrying jet fuel were erroneous, Chicopee Mayor Michael Bissonette said. He said the truck was carrying 9,000 gallons of gasoline and 3,000 gallons of diesel.

A plume of thick, black smoke from the wreckage could be seen miles away from the accident as fire crews tried to get the blaze under control. Personnel from nearby Westover Air Force base were called on to help quell the flames.

The collision occurred on the northbound side of the highway, near Exit 13A, just after 9:30 a.m. and state emergency officials said three cars were engulfed in flames. The blaze was not brought under control until close to 11 a.m.

Witnesses said the tanker truck rolled off the highway onto several cars below. Some of the occupants leaped out, then ran back to try to rescue others in the vehicles, they said.

"The cab stayed up on the highway, but it was engulfed in flames and it was incredible that several bystanders got out of their cars, as well as two nearby workers, and pulled the driver out of a burning cab. Got him stabilized on the ground until the paramedics could come," Bissonette said.

The accident happened on Center Street under the underpass where Interstate 91 and Interstate 391 intersect. It's called the "Chicopee Curve."

The roadway was shut down in both directions, but by noon the southbound side was re-opened. Bisonette said there were remaining questions about the structural safety of the bridge where the accident occurred that were keeping the northbound side closed.

He added that the crash and fuel spill may have caused environmental issues for the nearby Connecticut River.

There was no word on what caused the crash, but weather advisories were issued in the area early Friday because of late-season snow, sleet and rain.

The driver worked for Abenaqui Carriers of North Hampton, N.H., according to the Associated Press.

A driver for the same company rolled over a fuel tanker in Everett, Mass., in December, sparking a fire that severely damaged several homes and destroyed dozens of cars.
http://www.wmur.com/news/15731400/detail.html

 

Amazing that it was not worse then it could have been

 

I believe he had a tri-axel trailer

 

And there going to charge the driver in one of the cars for causing the accident

 

What gets me is that down that area people pull off real stupid things and hardly anything gets done about it.

It is very tragic and there need to be more enforcement on the roads