Bridge collapses in Detroit following a fuel tanker explosion

A fuel tanker explosion has caused an overhead bridge to collapse in Detroit, Michigan


The National Transportation Safety Board launched a three-member team to investigate Wednesday’s multiple-
vehicle accident that resulted in a fire and a bridge collapse.

At about 8:10 p.m. on Wednesday a tanker truck carrying approximately14,000 gallons of gasoline rolled over in the City of Hazel Park north of Michigan. The resulting fire was not fully extinguished until 4am the next morning.

A firefighter and paramedic, of Hazel Park fire department told NCE:

” When the team arrived, the site was engulfed in flames and the heat was so intense that 50 firefighters were at the scene battling to extinguish the flames, there was black smoke of a high density imparing our vision. that required one million gallons of water to put out.

We are lead to believe the accident occured because of a driver who had lost control of his vehicle that susequently smashed into the tanker causing the semi trailer to come apart, skidd and therefore instantaeously catch alight”.

A spokesman for The Detroit Department of transport, Robert Morosi said:

” Soon after the accident authorities cordend off the surrounding areas and underpass; just as well, because the section of the area where the bridge had burned collapsed hours later and crashed on to the ground”

The concrete and steel bridge was originally built in 1966 and that had only last summer undergone extensive refurbishment. It now required construction workers called in to demolish the remaining 60 % that stood after the collapse.

” The bridge will be rebuilt costing USD $2m and assessments are underway to determine the affect the fire may have had on other civil infrastucture such as roads and neighbouring pavemnets so that they too can be refurbished” added Morosi.

Three injuries have been reported.