A tanker truck crash that sparked a major fire has shut down all northbound lanes of the 5 Freeway at the 2 Freeway interchange Saturday morning in Elysian Valley.
According to Caltrans and police reports, the accident took place at around 10:30 a.m., where a tanker truck carrying approximately 8,500 gallons of gasoline blew a tire while driving through the tunnel connecting the two freeways. The blown tire caused the tanker to crash and roll onto its side, quickly sparking a massive fire.
The heat from the fire quickly engulfed and erased the truck, though the driver was able to escape the blaze. Though he suffered injury, he is expected to make a full recovery. Fortunately, no other vehicles were involved in the accident, or in the raging fire that followed after it.
“In my twenty four years, I’ve never seen damage to that extend,” said Captain Alicia Mathis of the Los Angeles Fire Department, who spent the morning fighting the major fire.
Following the accident, all northbound lanes were closed for a period of time Caltrans described as “long-term”. Two southbound lanes were also closed down as a part of the cleanup process. Engineers were sent to the scene to assess the damages and the structural integrity of the concrete structure of the tunnel. If the concrete is deemed too heavily damaged, a full reconstruction will be needed, keeping lanes closed for months.
Commuters throughout the area were told to expect major delays on their Monday morning commute, and every workday after for potentially several weeks.
Considering the explosive aftermath of the crash, it is fortunate that the truck’s driver was not more seriously injured, or that no other vehicles were involved. Such an accident could have easily inflicted major or fatal damages to other drivers traveling through the tunnel at the time of the accident.
If you or someone you know has been hurt in an accident with a large trailer truck such as this, you should seek help, as there are legal protections in place to help victims get what they need to recover. Depending on the circumstances of your accident, you may be entitled to compensation from those at fault to help pay for the damages that you’ve sustained.
We at AA Accident Attorneys will fight for your rights and get you the full amount you deserve. We can guide you through the complicated legal process and connect you with any assistance you may need in the meantime. As always, we will charge you nothing for our legal services until your case is won. If we do not collect on your case, then you won’t owe us anything.
Call us today for a free evaluation and to learn more about what our team of experienced legal professionals can do to get you back onto your feet.
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