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:

a

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


Read Next

Pickup crossed center line, triggering fiery crash that DESTROYED tractor trailer, police say

Pickup crossed center line, triggering fiery crash that DESTROYED tractor trailer, police say

Police in Maine are investigating a fiery two vehicle collision that happened in Turner on Tuesday morning. The crash happened at 7:41 a.m. on May 6 in front of a business called Northeastern Firearms, located […]
Truck flips, spills ‘expensive’ load of EGGS on I-80 in California

Truck flips, spills ‘expensive’ load of EGGS on I-80 in California

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) responded to a truck crash that spilled cartons of eggs into the highway median. The crash occurred around 5 a.m. on May 1 on eastbound I-80 near Truckee. Troopers say […]
Truck driver AIRLIFTED following 18 wheeler vs. train crash in Texas

Truck driver AIRLIFTED following 18 wheeler vs. train crash in Texas

Multiple agencies responded to a collision involving an 18 wheeler and a train in Grayson County, Texas, on Tuesday. At 4:18 p.m. on April 22, Gunter Volunteer Fire & Rescue and other agencies responded to […]
Big rig BUSTS APART after hitting farm tractor in Utah

Big rig BUSTS APART after hitting farm tractor in Utah

A semi truck suffered catastrophic damage in a collision with a farm tractor in Box Elder County, Utah, on Tuesday. The crash occurred shortly before 2 p.m. on April 15 on I-15 near mile marker […]
Trucker hauling batteries TRAPPED in cab following rollover crash on Maryland interstate

Trucker hauling batteries TRAPPED in cab following rollover crash on Maryland interstate

A truck driver suffered injuries during a rollover crash on I-70 in Maryland on Tuesday. First responders were alerted to a commercial vehicle crash on I-70 near Myersville, Maryland, shortly after 5 a.m. on April […]