Truck driver nonetheless unaccounted for after large tanker hearth collapses complete part of I-95 in Philadelphia

Officers say the truck driver concerned in an enormous tanker truck hearth has nonetheless not been discovered after the blaze downed a big part of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia on Sunday morning. 

The Sunday morning hearth occurred at round 6 a.m. on June eleventh beneath the I-95 overpass close to the Cottman Avenue exit within the Tacony part of Philadelphia.

In accordance with 6 ABC, the tanker truck was hauling 8,500 gallons of 87-octane gasoline and caught hearth beneath the overpass after exiting the freeway. The reason for the hearth continues to be not clear, however the blaze turned so intense that it compromised the structural integrity of the overpass and led to the collapse of the northbound lanes. Small explosions additionally occurred within the space, together with hearth popping out of close by manholes. 

No motorists had been injured within the collapse, however the truck driver is but to be discovered, reported CNN. The tanker truck continues to be trapped beneath the rubble from the freeway collapse. The truck driver concerned was reportedly an skilled driver, however their id has not been launched.

The destroyed portion of the freeway is “seemingly the busiest interstate within the commonwealth,” mentioned Pennsylvania Division of Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll, and repairs are anticipated to take “some variety of months,” in keeping with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.