HIWASSEE,
Ga. --
An 8,500 gallon gas tanker overturned near the bottom of Clayton Mountain, Monday morning, causing a fire as visitors headed to the Georgia Mountain Fair.
Clouds of smoke rose from over the mountain near Hiwassee. The rising smoke was seen over Highway 76 as fire fighters from Towns County were alerted around 7:23 a.m. and responded.
According to Capt. David Sellers, a flat tire started the accident sending the driver over a guard rail where gas leaked down the highway causing a huge explosion down the road bank.
The driver survived with minor injuries after kicking out the front window moments before the explosion.
Upon the fire department's arrival, they found the tanker completely engulfed in flames. They decided to allow the gas to burn out before they removed the remains of the wreck to keep any fluid from the leaking into the nearby creek.
As of Monday around 1 p.m., Highway 76 connecting Clayton, Ga. and Hiwassee, Ga. had been reopened.
An 8,500 gallon gas tanker overturned near the bottom of Clayton Mountain, Monday morning, causing a fire as visitors headed to the Georgia Mountain Fair.
Clouds of smoke rose from over the mountain near Hiwassee. The rising smoke was seen over Highway 76 as fire fighters from Towns County were alerted around 7:23 a.m. and responded.
According to Capt. David Sellers, a flat tire started the accident sending the driver over a guard rail where gas leaked down the highway causing a huge explosion down the road bank.
The driver survived with minor injuries after kicking out the front window moments before the explosion.
Upon the fire department's arrival, they found the tanker completely engulfed in flames. They decided to allow the gas to burn out before they removed the remains of the wreck to keep any fluid from the leaking into the nearby creek.
As of Monday around 1 p.m., Highway 76 connecting Clayton, Ga. and Hiwassee, Ga. had been reopened.