A fuel truck flipped and exploded on the Long Island Expressway on Saturday morning, killing the driver and creating a fireball seen for miles.
The heavily trafficked highway was closed in both directions for hours after the intense heat melted the supports for a huge road sign, which collapsed across all eight lanes of the roadway.
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Westbound lanes were reopened about 6:15 p.m., officials said. The fire caused the pavement to buckle in the eastbound lanes and remained closed overnight as workers repaved about 200 feet of road that had melted. Nassau County police spokesman Michael Toich says all lanes were reopened as of 4:40 a.m. Sunday.
Eileen Peters, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Transportation, said Saturday that the agency was “cautiously optimistic” that the eastbound lanes could be repaired and reopened by Sunday.
“They will continue through the night until we can open the roadway safely,” she said.
She could not estimate the cost for the repairs but said the state would seek to recuperate the cost through insurance.
Emergency crews battled the raging blaze for three hours after the 8 a.m. accident between Melville and Plainview near the Nassau County line. Heavy equipment was brought in to remove the fallen sign.
The tanker was operated by Maine-based Kittery Transport, authorities said, and the driver was identified as Mujahid Shah, 57, of Brooklyn.
The accident happened as the tanker sought to pass a small car that apparently was having mechanical problems and slowing down, Chief Michael Sharkey of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department said.
He said the Dodge was trying to get to the shoulder of the highway when the tanker veered around it, struck it and lost control.
The tanker overturned, igniting into flames.
“It would appear that the driver of the truck was not able to get out of the vehicle,” Sharkey said. Rescuers extricated his body after the flames died down.
The woman at the wheel of the car was taken by helicopter to Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, where she was being treated for injuries that were not serious, Sharkey said.
Firefighters poured foam onto the smoldering truck, which they estimated still held about 1,500 gallons of gasoline. The fuel had been picked up Saturday morning in Brooklyn for delivery to Long Island.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.
These idiots are trying to make a life loving driver look like a killer. NY should hang drunk driver of Dodge neon so other people on road can be safe. I am sure she was in her senses
The trucker driver was not at fault and that is so obvious. The idiot in the neon caused the crash and the driver of the trucks life. These gas deleivery drivers are so skilled and have HAZMAT Endorsements and take extreme care. She cut him off and he was unable to control. A driver cut me off today. Her lies will eventually catch up on her! I hope this is investiagted.
Well – not sure of the facts – but everyone seems to drive like a moron these days – folks think that driving is similar to an arcade game. If I crash, I’ll just insert another quarter and play again.
Car drivers suck – so many drunks and weaving in and out – to save 60 seconds on their trip and endanger everyone.
Truck drives are worse – their license and training are everything to them – but nearly all of them drive way too fast – tailgate like fools – and get annoyed if you don’t drive 85 mph in the center lane (again, showing their displeasure by driving 2 inches from your tail). These truck drivers need to be shot and left for dead – as they absolutely know better – jerks
I’m inclined to believe that we do not have all of the facts yet.
This was a dreadful accident. Nothing is gained by making unfounded accusations at this time. Let’s wait and see what the investigation reveals.
There will be plenty of time to blame later.
It just bothers me quite a bit that any village idiot in the USA can pass a stupid parallell parking test one minute than get on a major interstate and drive cluelessly. LANE DISCIPLINE which is totally disregarded and not enforced in NY could have prevented this fatal wreck and loss of life.
Dodge Neons are very prone to failure, head gaskets go like nothing. Regardless this driver should never have been in the middle lane especially after sensing loss of power.
NY needs to start enforcing lane discipline laws and to start with this preventable tragedy.
This was a major wreck with loss of life and environmental cleanup, repaving, etc. Enough stupidity and lack of awareness. There has to be some accountability here and everywhere else.
The driver of that oil tanker was a good friend of mine. He was not only a very experienced professional driver, but a extremely good person. He always helped others in his life and ended his life to save another person. His tragic death is a big loss for the whole community in Brooklyn.
The lady driving the car was at fault. Just look at where the tanker hit it! She cut him off and he tried to avoid her and lost his life trying. It makes me sick and I am a woman. These drivers go through intense driving training and have to maintain strict medical records and are constantly alert. She pulled out and a driver in control of a tanker holding over 8000 gallons of gas can only do so much. Moreover, drivers holding a tanker endorsement have in the business a HAZMAT endorsement and some have gone through a homeland security background check which get a TWIX card to operate such machinery. These men are extremely reliable and know more than any driver of a 4 wheeler the caution required to operate such a vehicle. This poor man paid the ultimate price because a stupid idiot decided to cut him off to be in time for her appointment. “my car was breaking down” really….The car was a new Dodge Neon..If it was breaking down there was no fuel in the tank…but investigators will find that out and the fact the damage was to the rear, the engine was intact! Was she driving under 40 MPH? All this I hope will be investigated since the driver of the tanker is no longer with us. May he rest in peace. I hope she tells the truth instead of making up a story that makes no sense. You can’t fool everyone!
The woman in the car caused this accident. She cut the truck driver off. Just look at the damage to her car where the tanker hit her. On the left side. She cut him off. I hope this is found out in the investigation. “I was breaking down”…yeah right!! These drivers are skilled Professionals.