APRIL 1, 2015
DEARBORN-DETROIT, MICHIGAN
An 87-year-old man who hit a fuel tanker while changing
lanes last month on I-94 is responsible for the ensuing crash near the
Dearborn-Detroit border that created fireball explosions and closed eastbound
lanes for several days, police said.
The man, whose identity wasn't immediately released, was
driving his car eastbound in the right lane March 11 near Michigan Avenue when
he went to change lanes and collided with the tanker trailer operated by a
55-year-old Redford Township man. The car spun in front of the truck, causing the
truck to travel into the left lane, striking a third vehicle and forcing it
into oncoming traffic lanes, according to a report Michigan State Police
released Wednesday.
The tanker was carrying 13,000 gallons of diesel and
unleaded fuel, and the large explosions emitted black smoke plumes visible for
miles before crews had the fire under control. No one was killed, and only
minor injuries were reported.
The third vehicle in the crash was driven by a
23-year-old woman from Woodhaven, and police said all three vehicles were
totaled in the fires.
The 87-year-old man was found to be at fault, but police
didn't specify penalties he could face.
The popular highway's eastbound lanes were closed for a few
days so crews could replace a section of pavement about 150 feet long. A
substantial cleanup was necessary, as fuel had leaked into a nearby sewer
system and areas near the crash.
Dearborn fire crews were among several agencies on the crash
scene. Western Wayne and Downriver hazardous materials teams were called in to
assist, and the Marathon Oil Refinery in Detroit dispatched four firefighters
and a special foam truck to help battle the blaze, refinery spokesman Jamal
Kheiry previously said. Detroit Metro Airport also dispatched a staff member as
part of a mutual aid hazardous materials team, according to spokesman Michael
Conway, who noted that the smoke did not disrupt air traffic in or out of the
airport.
Old people like that must lose their driving license for
good. They are causing numerous
accidents on the roads through their lack of memory, low reflexes, slow speed
in the left lanes, lack of hearing, and so on.