AP
A FUEL TANKER TRAVELING THE A2 HIGHWAY NEAR GRAZ, AUSTRIA, Friday drifted off the travel lane and dragged along the guardrail, ripping open the tanks and igniting the stores of gasoline and diesel fuel. Within seconds the entire truck was full ablaze with leaking product fueling the fire.
OE24
The 48-yr.-old driver was lightly injured, but he had the good fortune to be able to drag himself out of the cab and away from the inferno.
The fire brigade struck extra alarms as the burning fuel spread into a nearby forest and started a woods fire. Compounding the situation was some runoff that went into the storm drains and began flashing, the explosions blowing manhole covers into the air throughout the area. GRF-TV has a brief video of the fire:
The fire was mostly extinguished by burning out as the firefighters worked on containment and the woods fire. The accident happened shortly after 8 am and the FF’s had the situation under control within an hour. The truck originated in Salzburg and was heading south out of Graz en route to Vienna.
OE24
Early reports say that it may have been caused from the driver falling asleep at the wheel. Total damages are expected to reach 300,000 Euros. No other injuries were reported.
OE24 has the story and a 30-image photo gallery HERE.
OE24
OE24
Hat tip: Christian L.
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