Breaking News: Major Tanker Accident, Explosion, Overpass collapse

There has been a horrific crash and explosion in Hazel Park, Michigan…

Video Via WXYZ, Shot earlier:

Better Via via Fox 2 Detroit:

The Story WXYZ-TV:

HAZEL PARK, Mich. (WXYZ) – A tanker truck–and possibly two or three semi trucks–has exploded in the vacinity of northbound I-75/I-696/Nine Mile Road in Hazel Park, causing a massive fire and explosion. Eyewitnesses say the tanker tried to make it under the Nine Mile overpass but the top of the tanker hit the bridge, causing the explosion. It is not known what the tanker was carrying. A Michigan State Police officer told Action News reporter Cheryl Chodun that there were “two or three” trucks involved in the explosion.

Preliminary reports indicate one person has been injured, but it is still not known how many vehicles are involved in the accident/explosion.

Michigan State Police say Eastbound I-696 ramps to northbound and southbound I-75 are now closed, and I-75 has been shut down in both directions at Nine Mile from the center of the fire. Response teams from Hazel Park, Madison Heights and Ferndale are at the scene, along with the Michigan State Police.

Multiple sources have told Action News that the Nine Mile Road overpass has collapsed at the center of the fire. The explosion, according to witnesses, occurred around 8:15 p.m.

According to what I’ve just heard from on WXYZ, the tanker driver is alive and a friend of theirs, which relayed it to the local news station that someone “T-Boned” or stuck his truck. Which caused the accident.

Consider this a live Blog, I will be posting more information; once I receive. If you are on twitter; if you have information or saw the accident or have a picture. Please, reply to my tweet and/or e-mail me via the Blog and I will post it here.

Update @ 1:24 A.M: Via WXYZ:

HAZEL PARK, Mich. (WXYZ) – Investigators at the scene of a massive tanker truck fire on I-75 say the fire is under control but crews are letting it burn itself out.

Officials say the tanker truck and two other vehicles were involved in the crash and explosion in the vacinity of northbound I-75/I-696/Nine Mile Road in Hazel Park Wednesday evening.

Officers say the tanker truck was hit by another vehicle and slammed into one of the concrete supports under the Nine Mile Road overpass. Multiple sources have told Action News that the overpass collapsed at the center of the fire. This overpass was rebuilt just one year ago; now it will have to be rebuilt again.

The accident and explosion, according to witnesses, occurred around 8:15 p.m. Police say three persons were hurt. They were taken to Beaumont Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

A Michigan State Police officer told Action News reporter Cheryl Chodun that the tanker truck was carrying 13,000 gallons of fuel and 4,000 gallons of diesel fuel.

I’m sure this will be a mess for a while. Oy. 🙄

Update July 16, 2009: The Clean up Begins!