Posted on 04/29/2007 6:40:56 AM PDT by 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.
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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.
Is the driver a MUSLIM???
I was thinking the same thing. I had to search for where it was located......for all I knew it was in ethiopia.
No kidding. I always dreaded “The maze” whenever I had to use when I lived up there (1990-1998). They were working on getting the Loma Prieta damage fixed when I was living up there, actually took 6 or 7 years to get it fixed.
Imagine the rush hour tomorrow. I lived there in the 90s. It is complete gridlock when all lanes are in use...
Driver’s name?
But, but, but,.....according to Rosie, fire shouldn’t have caused the collapse of a steel reinforced structure...
LOL... the stink off Rosie melts steel.
Perhaps BART ridership will pickup. I grew up in the Bay Area. I moved away 30 years ago. I still have family in the area.
It says in the article California.
This is too much of a coincidence. Taken out not one but TWO overpasses in the second busiest traffic corridor in the country.
This day needs to be watched carefully.
Some idiots over at YouTube on a video claiming 9/11 was an inside job actually stated there is no way that the fire caused the continuing damage to the Towers, because the jet fuel couldn’t have lasted that long. The idiots don’t even know that the building itself can catch - and was - on fire. It’s amazing how stupid some people are - it really is.
When I see ‘Bay Bridge’ I automatically assume San Fransico.
The article tells you, it is the bay area(CA)highway 80 and 580.
Tanker Explodes; Bay Bridge Connector Collapses
...on what the tanker was carrying (unleaded gas) and which roads are closed.
At that hour of the morning, though, I figure it's more likely the driver fell asleep or had some health issue.
If this is as busy as some suggest, I would be watching the areas it services for happenings. Cutting off access to an area by destroying a major roadway gives them just the kind of opening they want.
I haven’t heard a driver’s name.
Am I missing something? What do you mean two overpasses? I’ve only read about one.
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