http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,343030,00.html
Trucker Badly Burned After His Tanker Explodes in Mass. Highway Crash
Friday, March 28, 2008
CHICOPEE, Mass. — A truck driver was critically burned after his fuel tanker rolled over and exploded in a fiery wreck that shut down Interstate 91 in Chicopee on Friday.
The driver was initially trapped in the cab after the 9:30 a.m. crash. Witnesses told The Republican of Springfield that more than a dozen drivers pulled over to try to free the man, some carrying blankets and jackets to smother the flames.
“They were trying to get him out of the cab, but everybody who tried would be stopped by the flames,” said Gregory Coleman of Westfield. “There were just a bunch of people running towards the fire. It was crazy.”
Coleman’s sister, Rebecca Colemen of Chicopee, said the tanker then exploded.
“The explosion just rocked the whole bridge,” she said. “The car bounced.”
The driver was eventually rescued and taken to an area hospital. The Republican reported he suffered third-degree burns over much of his body
State police said the accident happened after Victor Aponte, 35, of Holyoke got onto the highway, lost control of his car and careened across the road, hitting another car. Aponte’s car then hit the tanker, which veered off the road, striking a guardrail and sign post.
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What an awful accident.