A fuel tanker exploded on a Connecticut bridge, killing a driver after a relative suffered a blown tire and collided with a flipped truck with 22,000 gallons of fuel inside: Vehicle occupants survived
- Authorities have confirmed one death after the tanker overturned on the Gold Star Memorial Bridge
- The Connecticut State Police also confirmed that there were buildings on fire under the bridge
A fuel tank exploded and its driver was killed after a nearby car suffered a blown tire and slammed into the back of a truck, knocking it over as it crossed a Connecticut bridge.
Tragedy struck the Gold Star Memorial Bridge in Groton on Friday after the car and its occupants collided with the tanker in the aftermath of the explosion.
It explodes in a massive fireball, killing the unknown driver and shutting down I-95.
The occupants of the car that hit the tanker were injured, but survived, and their names were not revealed.
Dramatic footage showed columns of smoke rising from the bridge as the fire continued to burn. It took the fire brigade several hours to put it out.
It crosses the River Thames and lies a few thousand feet from the mouth of the Atlantic Ocean.
Emergency services are working to put out a fire in Groton, Connecticut, after a car fell Friday morning.
Another disturbing image shows flames and smoke billowing from the bridge and was shot from a car driving near Hell
The driver of the overturned truck has since been confirmed dead. Two occupants of a car that suffered a tire blowout and the tanker fell were injured, but survived
Connecticut State Police tweeted this photo of fire engines and first responders at the scene of the fire on the bridge, which crosses the Thames River and is located just a few thousand feet from the mouth of the Atlantic Ocean.
This image shows the intensity of the fire at its height, with huge black clouds of smoke depicted rising above the clear blue sky
The Department of Transport closed the road between Exits 86 and 84, with the south side of the bridge closed for structural inspection.
Sgt. Joseph Belchat, New London Police Department said: ‘Due to a serious motor vehicle accident on the Gold Star Bridge, both lanes of I-95 have been closed and the bridge has been closed to traffic. Anticipate potential significant delays.
Connecticut State Police also confirmed the presence of burning buildings below the bridge, with injuries reported though it is unclear how severe they were.
Groton Mayor Keith Kidrick said the fire had melted some of the guardrails, meaning engineers would have to come and assess the south side of the bridge.
The Naval Submarine Base New London sent firefighters to help with the fire, but the fire had no effect on the sub base which is still open for normal operations.
Footage shows the fire moving down the side of the bridge as emergency services struggle to contain it
Huge plumes of smoke could be seen from miles away as the fire continued to burn
The south side of the bridge remains closed due to structural damage from the fire
Another image taken from a distant location shows the extent of the tanker fire, with one person killed and two others injured
