A gasoline tanker overturned, caught fire and exploded on a New Jersey highway Monday around 11am, and its driver was able to escape before the truck burst into flames, police said. Nearby houses were also evacuated by first responders. See video below:
The big rig, carrying 8,900 gallons of gas, flipped on an off-ramp in Pennsauken around 11 a.m., CBS Philly reported.
It’s not clear what caused the Camden County accident, but no other vehicles were involved. The driver escaped, but police did not say if he suffered any injuries.
The roaring flames sent black smoke billowing over the area.
“I heard a big bang and I felt it. I looked over and saw the flames shoot straight up. It was pretty crazy. I didn’t see the truck… all I saw was flames,” said Bob Ried, who was driving near the tanker when it exploded. “It felt like a bomb went off.”
It took firefighters more than an hour to gain control of the blaze, which was mostly put out by 12:30 p.m., 6 ABC reported.
