Tanker truck overturns, explodes on Maryland highway, photos show; driver hospitalized
A tanker truck overturned and exploded on a Maryland highway early Friday morning, according to the Baltimore County Fire Department.
The tanker, which became engulfed in flames when the incident occurred around 6 a.m., sent billows of smoke through the air, according to Fox Baltimore.
The truck’s driver is in serious condition and was sent to the University of Maryland R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center.
Crews were able to put out the fire, the department tweeted around 9 a.m., and officials have asked people in the Owing Mills area to continue to avoid the area. Staffers were working with Maryland Department of the Environment the contain diesel fuel that spilled from the tanker.
Here is a summary of ongoing Fire & Hazmat operations on I-795 in #OwingsMills, where a tanker overturned and caught fire this morning: https://t.co/zpO2kSlvEH Please continue to avoid the area. EA pic.twitter.com/qliiVJEvAV
— Baltimore County Fire Department (@BaltCoFire) March 24, 2023
Officials expected there would be no environmental impact, due to containment of the fuel from the 8,500-gallon tanker truck.
The incident shut down both the inner and outer loops of I-795 Northbound and is expected to impact traffic for an "extended period," officials added.
A look from the scene on I-795 N heading toward Owings Mills.
This is the tanker truck that overturned and exploded. The fire is now put out.@BaltCoFire says to expect major delays for some time as both the inner and outer loops on I-795 NB at the beltway remain shut down. pic.twitter.com/dcCOw6tnYz— Shannon Lilly (@ShannonLillyTV) March 24, 2023
USA TODAY has reached out to the Maryland Department of the Environment.
Camille Fine is a trending visual producer on USA TODAY's NOW team.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tanker truck fire, explosion on I-795 in Maryland shuts down highway