THE ROLLOVER RISKS OF
TANKERS: Gas tanker TRUCK explosion critically injures driver in
Spanish Fork, UTAH
Few weeks ago we reported on the rollover risks of tanker
trucks that carry several thousand gallons of fuel or other hazardous material. Since that time, there have been several
tanker truck rollovers across the States, releasing thousands of gallons of hazardous
chemicals to the environment. Here is the link to that blog.
THE ROLLOVER RISKS OF TWO-TANK
TANKERS ARE TOO GREAT TO CONTINUE TO ALLOW THEM CARRYING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
WITHOUT ADDITIONAL SAFETY MEASURES
The forces generated by the sloshing of bulk liquid carried in
tanker trucks can cause accidents. The
roll-over tendency of a vehicle can be measured in terms of how many
"g" (gravitational acceleration) that vehicle can withstand in
cornering. The higher this value, the
safer the vehicle. For example, full
size passenger cars can withstand around 1.2 g. For a loaded semi-truck the number is 0.4, and
for half empty tanker truck it can be as bad as 0.15. Tanker trucks are used for supplying soldiers
with water and fuel. The trucks
sometimes need to operate on rough terrain at relatively high speeds. This exposes the truck to a roll-over risk. If
the tanker is partially empty, the risk of roll-over becomes much higher.
The fluid slosh can definitely throw you around if you're not
expecting it. You have to be smooth with your inputs. If the driver was being
stupid/distracted/whatever he could have easily steered/braked too quickly and
caused the slosh to tip him over.
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SPANISH FORK, Utah — A semi-truck carrying thousands of
gallons of fuel exploded along I-15 Friday.
Posted 2:44 pm, November 28, 2014, by Caroline Connolly, Updated at 06:16pm, November 29, 2014
It happened just after 2:00 p.m., as the truck turned onto the
off-ramp to Spanish Fork.
“It was just kind of like a big boom sound. No shrapnel or
anything, just boom and then a big plume of smoke,” said Frederick Haywood, who
was traveling in another semi-truck behind the accident.
According to Utah Highway Patrol, the driver of the truck lost
control as he came around a turn on the ramp and slid off the road, eventually
flipping over.
Police believe he was carrying approximately 8,500 gallons of
gasoline on board. When the vehicle tipped, much of the fuel poured onto the
road and sparked a fire. Before the flames could spread considerably,
bystanders who were stopped in their cars ran over to pull the truck’s driver
out.
“He did have very serious burns over a large percentage of his
body,” said Sgt. Brett Christensen of Utah Highway Patrol.
Police identified the driver as Leslie Shelton, 28, of
Colorado. He was taken by medical helicopter to University of Utah Hospital,
where he remained in critical condition Friday night.
According to Christensen, the company Shelton works for is also
from Colorado.
“We are still investigating what caused this,” Christensen
said, “We don’t want to speculate.”
An environmental cleanup crew was scheduled to clear the
remaining fuel from the road.
Throughout most of the evening, traffic was diverted past the
ramp, towards the Benjamin exit a few miles away. Authorities were eventually
able to open one lane, but continued to monitor the vapor levels of the gas.
USA, ME, PORTER, NOVEMBER 13 2014. PORTER ROAD REMAINS
CLOSED AFTER GAS TANKER TOPPLES >> UP TO 2,500 GALLONS OF GASOLINE
SPILLED
PORTER, Maine —Route 25 in Porter reopened Thursday morning
after a tanker truck filled with gasoline rolled over Wednesday night.
While the road has reopened, the cleanup could take most of the
day.
No one was injured in the crash, which was reported at 6:08
p.m. Wednesday, Deputy Michael Halacy of the Oxford County Sheriff's Office
said.
Halacy estimated the ditch the tanker rolled into was within
100 yards of a river. He noticed
gasoline fumes when he first arrived at the crash scene.
Officials estimate 2,500 gallons of gasoline spilled. The
tanker was carrying 10,000 gallons.
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection said the
gasoline did not pose a threat to the river, but asked neighbors to remain
indoors.
"The major issue is explosive vapors, because the
gasoline's been released into the ground so we have explosive vapors in that
area so we have to be very cautious that we don't produce a spark to start a
fire or explosion," said Stephen Flannery of Maine DEP.
The 2014 Freightliner had hit a sharp drop-off edge of pavement
before going into the ditch on its right side, Halacy said.
The crash occurred about a quarter of mile from Oxford-York
County border and within a couple hundred yards of Colcord Pond Road.
Watch the Video Porter Road Remains Closed after Gas Tanker
Topples
WMTW News 8's Courtney Sturgeon reports on the cleanup of up to
2,500 gallons of gasoline in Porter after an Irving oil truck tipped over into
a ditch. No one was hurt in the crash,
but a section of Route 25 will remain closed as the gasoline is moved to
another tanker.
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Overturned 18-Wheeler Shuts Down I-20 in Benbrook
NBC 5 News
Crews remove 40,000 pounds of chicken from an overturned
18-wheeler that shut down Interstate 20 for several hours near U.S. 377 in
Benbrook Thursday morning. (Nov. 27, 2014)
Thursday, Nov 27, 2014 • Updated at 8:34 AM CST
Interstate 20 was shut down in both directions in Benbrook for
several hours after an 18-wheeler overturned Thursday morning.
Police said they are investigating what caused the 18-wheeler
to fall on its side on westbound I-20 near U.S. 377 just before 4 a.m.
At about 6 a.m., Hazmat crews finished cleaning nearly 100
gallons of diesel fuel that spilled onto the freeway in the wreck, according to
police.
Officials said they had to offload 40,000 pounds of chicken the
truck was carrying to California, which delayed cleaning of the road.
As of 8 a.m., the truck had not been cleared from the road, but
police reopened the freeway.
No injuries were reported.
USA, OK, MEDICINE PARK, NOVEMBER 14 2014. TANKER HAULING
SULPHURIC ACID STUCK IN MEDICINE PARK
A tanker carrying 45,000 pounds of sulfuric acid is currently
stuck on Big Rock Road near State Highway 58 in Medicine Park. The Medicine
Park Police Chief says the driver was headed to the water treatment plant
around noon when he took Highway 58 to Big Rock Road instead of going down
State Highway 49. If you've ever driven through the area, you know there's a
steep grade with a lot of sharp turns. At some point, the back end of the
tanker went off the road and became stuck. The Medicine Park Fire Department
and police, along with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Comanche County
Sheriff's Department, responded. They closed off the road that leads to the Big
Rock Estates for safety reasons. The police chief says they are waiting on an
empty tanker from Texas to arrive and transfer the acid so they can safely
remove the stuck tanker from the road. He also says the company is flying out a
safety specialist to monitor the transfer. They expect to begin transferring
the acid Friday morning when they have daylight to work in. The road will
remain closed until at least noon Friday.
http://www.kswo.com/story/27378714/tanker-hauling-acid-stuck-in-medicine-park
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WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE)-- Emergency and hazmat crews were called Thursday evening to the scene of an overturned tanker near downtown Wichita.
It happened around 6:15 p.m. in the area of Water and Indianapolis streets, near Kellogg and Main. Crews arrived to find the semi truck still upright, but the tanker it was hauling had rolled onto its side.
Witnesses say the driver was trying to make a U-turn when the accident occurred.
The tanker was carrying approximately 5,000 gallons of an oil additive that is of low toxicity and didn't pose a danger to the public, said Acting Battalion Chief Chad Winton.
None of the substance spilled, and no injuries were reported.
Traffic was expected to be shut down in the area for a while as crews work to clear the scene.
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Tractor Trailer Rolls
Over at Thruway Exit, Causing Delays
By: TWC News Staff
Updated 11/29/2014 06:54 PM
SCHODACK, N.Y. -- A tractor trailer going too fast around a
ramp at Exit B1 of the Thruway caused traffic delays throughout the day
Saturday.
According to state police, the truck, which was carrying 11,000
gallons of gasoline, was heading east toward Massachusetts when it flipped
around 9 a.m. Saturday.
Police said an unknown amount of gasoline spilled from the
trailer, so HazMat and fire teams were called in.
The driver was taken to a nearby hospital with injuries
described as not life-threatening.
The highway was cleared up by 6 p.m. Saturday.
Tractor Trailer Rolls Over at Thruway Exit, Causing Delays
SCHODACK, N.Y. -- A tractor trailer
going too fast around a ramp at Exit B1 of the Thruway caused traffic
delays throughout the day Saturday.
According to state police, the truck, which was carrying 11,000 gallons of gasoline, was heading east toward Massachusetts when it flipped around 9 a.m. Saturday.
Police said an unknown amount of gasoline spilled from the trailer, so HazMat and fire teams were called in.
The driver was taken to a nearby hospital with injuries described as not life-threatening.
The highway was cleared up by 6 p.m. Saturday.
- See more at:
http://albany.twcnews.com/content/news/789037/tractor-trailer-rolls-over-at-thruway-exit--causing-delays/#sthash.283tvdka.dpufAccording to state police, the truck, which was carrying 11,000 gallons of gasoline, was heading east toward Massachusetts when it flipped around 9 a.m. Saturday.
Police said an unknown amount of gasoline spilled from the trailer, so HazMat and fire teams were called in.
The driver was taken to a nearby hospital with injuries described as not life-threatening.
The highway was cleared up by 6 p.m. Saturday.
Tanker crash shuts down
Eastbound Route 50 in Landover for hours
(Photo: College Park Volunteer Fire
Department)
LANDOVER, Md. (WUSA9) -- Eastbound Route 50 in Landover was
shut down for almost twelve hours on Sunday after a tanker truck crash, fire
officials said.
The tanker ran off the road and into a ditch near Route 202
around 5:50 a.m. fire officials said. The driver was taken to a trauma center,
officials said.
Hazmat officials spent hours cleaning up 22 hundred gallons of
fuel that spilled onto the road during the incident. The road reopened just
after 5 p.m.
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Posted: Fri 7:18 AM, Dec 05, 2014
It happened around 6:15 p.m. in the area of Water and Indianapolis streets, near Kellogg and Main. Crews arrived to find the semi truck still upright, but the tanker it was hauling had rolled onto its side.
Witnesses say the driver was trying to make a U-turn when the accident occurred.
The tanker was carrying approximately 5,000 gallons of an oil additive that is of low toxicity and didn't pose a danger to the public, said Acting Battalion Chief Chad Winton.
None of the substance spilled, and no injuries were reported.
Traffic was expected to be shut down in the area for a while as crews work to clear the scene.
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I-90 reopens after tanker goes off road, flips over leaking fuel onto freeway
3:30 A.M. - All lanes of I-90 eastbound at West 44th
Street and the left 3 lanes on I-90 westbound at West 44th Street are
currently closed after a tanker truck flips over spilling diesel fuel
onto the roadway.
Police said, it happened around 2:30 a.m. Friday morning. HAZMAT crews have been called to the scene.
According to ODOT, The highway is expected to remain closed through rush hour traffic this morning. Drivers are being asked to use SR2 and I-480 as alternate routes.
Crews are able to detour motorists off at W 44th street and back into I-90 eastbound at West 44th street, however this will quickly back up traffic on I-90 eastbound if motorists do not choose alternate routes.
The driver of the Semi was treated at the scene and suffered no serious injuries.
Police said, it happened around 2:30 a.m. Friday morning. HAZMAT crews have been called to the scene.
According to ODOT, The highway is expected to remain closed through rush hour traffic this morning. Drivers are being asked to use SR2 and I-480 as alternate routes.
Crews are able to detour motorists off at W 44th street and back into I-90 eastbound at West 44th street, however this will quickly back up traffic on I-90 eastbound if motorists do not choose alternate routes.
The driver of the Semi was treated at the scene and suffered no serious injuries.
Tractor Trailer Rolls Over at Thruway Exit, Causing Delays
SCHODACK, N.Y. -- A tractor trailer
going too fast around a ramp at Exit B1 of the Thruway caused traffic
delays throughout the day Saturday.
According to state police, the truck, which was carrying 11,000 gallons of gasoline, was heading east toward Massachusetts when it flipped around 9 a.m. Saturday.
Police said an unknown amount of gasoline spilled from the trailer, so HazMat and fire teams were called in.
The driver was taken to a nearby hospital with injuries described as not life-threatening.
The highway was cleared up by 6 p.m. Saturday.
- See more at:
http://albany.twcnews.com/content/news/789037/tractor-trailer-rolls-over-at-thruway-exit--causing-delays/#sthash.283tvdka.dpufAccording to state police, the truck, which was carrying 11,000 gallons of gasoline, was heading east toward Massachusetts when it flipped around 9 a.m. Saturday.
Police said an unknown amount of gasoline spilled from the trailer, so HazMat and fire teams were called in.
The driver was taken to a nearby hospital with injuries described as not life-threatening.
The highway was cleared up by 6 p.m. Saturday.