Massive blaze erupts as tanker truck overturns and explodes on busy highway

24 March 2023 , 23:12

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The fire broke out on the I-795 highway between Owings Mills Boulevard and the Beltway in Maryland (Image: Baltimore County Fire Department)

A huge tanker truck got wrapped in flames after it overturned on a highway, causing a massive explosion and blocking traffic for hours.

Emergency services rushed to the scene of a motor vehicle crash with fire on I-795 between Owings Mills Boulevard and the Beltway in Maryland at around 6am local time (10am GMT) on Friday.

Firefighters found the 8,500-gallon tanker truck ablaze and quickly worked to free the driver from the vehicle.

The driver was then transported to the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in serious condition by EMS crews.

Despite the valiant efforts of the emergency services to extinguish the fire, the incident had a significant impact on traffic in the area.

Holiday family return to find everything they own - even cat - destroyed in fire

Thick black smoke billowed from the scene (Baltimore County Fire Department)

Massive blaze erupts as tanker truck overturns and explodes on road (Baltimore County Fire Department)

Crews worked with the Maryland Department of the Environment to contain the diesel fuel spillage and clean up the roadway.

Fortunately, there have been no reports of any environmental impact due to the successful containment of the fuel.

As a result of the incident, the Maryland Transit Administration has suspended Metro service to Owings Mills until further notice.

Motorists were advised to avoid the area, as it was expected that the incident will continue to impact traffic for an extended period.

Vassia Barba