MAY 24, 2015
DETROIT, MICHIGAN
Crews are working to clear a massive tanker explosion that
shut down portions of I-75 in Detroit today as thousands of drivers head into
the city for the Movement Festival at Hart Plaza and Tigers game at Comerica
Park.
As of 2:55 p.m., southbound I-75 is reopened from the
Chrysler to Fisher Freeway but northbound I-75 in that area remains closed,
according to the Michigan Department of Transportation. Michigan State Police
First Lt. Michael Shaw said southbound I-375 has reopened. Also closed: the
northbound M-10 ramp to northbound I-75, the southbound M-10 ramp to northbound
I-75.
Shaw said the tanker has been cleared from the ramp and MDOT
crews are continuing road inspections on the northbound side of the freeway.
MDOT spokeswoman Diane Cross said she has "no idea
yet" on when the remainder of the freeway will reopen.
"My guess is it will be closed, but it's unknown for
how long," Cross said. "Bridge inspectors are still working."
Earlier, Cross said the fire has been put out, but police
and emergency crews are now checking for gasoline leakage in sewer systems.
Traffic on I-75 came to a halt as crews attempt to put out the fire.
Shaw said the driver of the Nour Light Petroleum Transport
truck out of Dearborn was able to escape the explosion with no injuries. He
said police are not releasing the name of the driver.
"The driver was able to get out before the tanker
caught fire and is currently with our troopers," Shaw said.
He said MSP began to receive 911 calls around 8:45 a.m.
referencing a possible tanker explosion.
Shaw said northbound I-75 is shut down at I-375. Southbound
I-75 traffic is being rerouted by troopers at the scene.
LIVE on #Periscope: Live
video of what appears to be a massive vehicle fire that has shut down I-75 in
Detroit. https://t.co/9Qddfd6h6Y
— Nathan Bomey (@NathanBomey) May 24, 2015
Shaw said the tanker was carrying 9,000 gallons of unleaded
fuel. And MDOT will need to determine the stability of the bridge. There's no
timetable on when the freeway will reopen.
Curtrise Garner, spokeswoman for the Detroit Water and
Sewerage Department, said the city's water supply was not contaminated by the
fuel, which flowed into the sewer system. Garner said she doesn't know how much
gas actually flowed into the sewer system.
"There is absolutely no contamination at all," she
said. "We haven't received any calls from residents saying that the water
tastes weird or smells funny. It does go into our sewer system, but our waste
water is equipped for any hazard that comes through. The gas is going through
the system and we're going to treat it. There is no harm to the
environment."
A truck has flipped over and is on fire on I-75 in #Detroitpic.twitter.com/WLsoXuQHiy
— Brent Snavely (@BrentSnavely) May 24, 2015
Shaw said crews are still working to determine how the fire
started. Shaw said he cannot confirm reports that the tanker rolled over.
"We are not sure about that," he said. "It
does not appear that is the case."
The Detroit Tigers are set to take on the Houston Astros at
1:08 p.m. at Comerica Park. And the Movement festival opened at noon at Hart
Plaza. Fans and attendees are encouraged to check traffic updates before
heading downtown.
Source: http://www.freep.com
