BREAKING NEWS: Tanker Explosion Causes Freeway Collapse

nbc11.com ^

[WSGilcrest]

Tanker truck explosion caused part of the upperdeck of the maze approaching the Bay Bridge to collapse.

Watch live coverage starting at 7 a.m. on NBC11

What was initially reported to the California Highway Patrol as a fire at around 3:42 a.m. Sunday quickly escalated to an explosion and roadway collapse on roadway that connects eastbound Interstate Highway 80 to eastbound Interstate Highway 580, according to a California Highway Patrol dispatcher.

WATCH LIVE VIDEO

According to the dispatcher, the roadway was destroyed after a tanker caught on fire and exploded, causing the driver to suffer second degree burns.

The tanker was under the overpass.

Chopper11 showed at least two sections of the maze collapsed.

The dispatcher said there is no word on when the roadway will be open and it could be days if not months before traffic resumes as usual on this stretch of road.

Stay with NBC11 and NBC11.com for continuing coverage of this breaking story.

[WSGilcrest]

Thank God this happened early Sunday morning. This is one of the busiest freeway interchanges in the country. Good video at link.

[WSGilcrest]

ugh. Where’s my coffee. A rare double post

[csvset]

That’s going to snarl traffic.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Bay Area ping.

[expatguy]

Ain't technology great. Im in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia watching this live just 5 minutes after it happened

An American Expat in Southeast Asia

[milford421]

Massive natural gas pipeline explosion in Illinois this morning too...

I’m waiting for details on the tanker explosion...under the overpass...were any other cars involved? Crash?

[raybbr]

This is one of the busiest freeway interchanges in the country.

Really? It would be nice to know what part of the country this is.

[raybbr]

[csvset]

Oakland California

[RGSpincich]

There must be some mistake. Rosie says that fire doesn’t melt steel.

[dirtboy]

Bay Bridge = San Fran/Oakland

[Old_Mil]

Yet another coincidence. Of all the thousands of miles of highway that a tanker could explode on, it does so at a busy interchange.

[Leisler]

"Im in Kuala Lumpur.."

I think you can come back now. I haven't seen your picture at the Post Office in months.

[WSGilcrest]

East end of the San Francisco/Oakland bay bridge. News saying driver hailed a cab to the hospital.

[raybbr]

Thanks.

[cripplecreek]

Sounds like the driver was lucky.

[fremont_steve]

I’m waiting for Rosie O to comment since fire can’t weaken steal to the point of collapse. OBVIOUSLY GWB was driving the truck by remote control and caused the crash!

I’m watching the news right now from the East Bay. It looks like 200 feet of a major connection around here has collapsed. It’s gonna suck tomorrow. Thank GOD for telecommuting ;-

[csvset]

Was any steel melted in that fire? If so, please advise Rosie “The Pig “ O’Donnell.

[expatguy]

Maybe it melts concrete.

[SE Mom]

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