Truck hauling hazardous chemicals explodes after being struck by wrong-way driver

Truck hauling hazardous chemicals explodes after being struck by wrong-way driver
Published on July 20th, 2016 by Steve Wilcox

Two people were killed as a result of a head-on collision involving an semi truck and a wrong-way SUV driver.

It happened early Wednesday morning on westbound I-40 in Knoxville, Tennessee. At around 1 a.m., emergency crews responded to the scene near I-275.

The semi truck was struck by an SUV that was traveling west in the eastbound lane. According to WKRN, an Estes trucking company semi truck was hauling 860 pounds of the hazardous chemical Benzoquinone at the time of the collision.

By the time crews arrived, the truck was engulfed in a massive inferno.

WKRN
WKRN

Officials inspected the air for safety. Hazmat allowed the fire to burn to avoid dangerous water run-off.

Firefighters used a water-soluble foam to smother the remainder of the flames.

WKRN

The roadway was shut down for several hours and traffic was diverted.

The Knoxville Police Department tweeted the following:

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By 10 a.m., the roadway was reopened. Investigators stated that the two drivers killed in the accident were the only people involved.


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