Act Daily News
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One individual died after an overturned gasoline tanker carrying flammable liquids exploded on a freeway in Frederick, Maryland on Saturday, inflicting injury to close by houses and automobiles as metropolis officers suggested residents to keep away from the world.
Flames and smoke billowed into the air after the truck tanker crashed right into a tree and exploded on US Route 15 shortly earlier than 12 p.m. ET within the western Maryland metropolis, about 50 miles west of Baltimore, in accordance with Ron Snyder, public info officer for Maryland State Police (MDSP).
After a number of hours, the fireplace was put out and the hazardous supplies, which have been within the line of gasoline and diesel gasoline, have been contained, Frederick County Fire and Rescue Chief Tom Coe stated throughout a news convention Saturday afternoon. The hazardous supplies didn’t attain the close by Carroll Creek, which flows into the Monocacy River in Frederick County, Coe added.
Officials have been working with the truck’s proprietor to determine the liquids contained in the tanker, Coe stated.
The driver of the truck, whose identification has not but been launched, died within the crash, Snyder confirmed to Act Daily News by cellphone. There have been no different accidents or fatalities reported in reference to the crash or the fireplace, Coe stated.
The explosion occurred a month after a freight practice carrying hazardous chemical compounds derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, igniting a dayslong inferno, spewing toxic fumes into the air and killing hundreds of fish.
During the Saturday news convention, Frederick Mayor Michael O’Connor acknowledged that many residents have been involved concerning the circumstances of the crash in gentle of the Ohio poisonous practice wreck, which occurred February 3.
The mayor stated not one of the tanker’s hazardous supplies entered the town’s sewer system, however officers will proceed working with state investigators to ensure there are not any lasting impacts.
“We will continue to monitor the environmental effects of this incident in the coming days and weeks ahead,” O’Connor stated.
Southbound lanes of the freeway reopened round 2:30 p.m. ET Saturday, whereas northbound lanes will stay closed for a number of hours as authorities examine the crash, authorities stated.
Six houses and 5 automobiles have been broken from the fireplace, the state police stated in a news launch.
The fireplace unfold to a close-by dwelling that’s now uninhabitable, Coe stated. Two adjoining houses additionally have been barely broken by the warmth of the fireplace, together with three automobiles, the chief added.
“I’m just grateful that this looks like a fairly routine kinid of accident that could occur on any highway anywhere in America and this is not anything more challenging than that,” the mayor stated. Earlier, O’Connor in a Facebook submit urged residents to keep away from the world.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore informed Act Daily News he was involved with Frederick officers and the companies responding to the scene.
“My heart goes out to those affected by this tragedy in Frederick,” Moore stated. “…We are continuing to monitor the situation closely.”
The state’s Fire Marshal and Department of the Environment have been notified and are responding to the crash, MDSP stated.
“We are providing all available resources to assist with this incident. We will continue to support DFRS as they lead incident control and clean up. I implore all residents to avoid the area to allow DFRS to do their jobs and prevent any fire from spreading,” the mayor stated within the Facebook submit.
Source: www.cnn.com