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

http://metroforensics.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-rollover-risks-of-two-tank-tankers.html

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.

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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.

http://www.wmtw.com/news/porter-road-remains-closed-after-gas-tanker-topples/29690304

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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.

9:55 p.m. EST November 30, 2014

(Photo: College Park Volunteer Fire Department)

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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.