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Interstate Collapse
ABC 3340 TV Birmingham, Alabama | Thermodynamics

Posted on 01/05/2002 12:54:33 PM PST by thermodynamics

At 10:30 AM Central, A tanker explosion on Interstate 65 in downtown Birmingham has shut down travel in many areas. It appears the junction connecting 3 major interstates has been damaged. Interstate 20/59's overpass over I-65 (from BHM To Nash) has collapsed. It could be days before I-65 opens in this area. Department of Transportation now says it could be MONTHS before this can be repaired. The driver of the tanker was killed and has been the only death. All travellers planning on using Birmingham, Ala. as an interchange to other destinations should check. This is creating tremendous problems to those traveling the I-65 corridor.


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1 posted on 01/05/2002 12:54:33 PM PST by thermodynamics
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To: thermodynamics
Intentional?
2 posted on 01/05/2002 12:56:59 PM PST by _Jim
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To: thermodynamics
Tankers dont just Spontaneously combust.

What was it carrying?

3 posted on 01/05/2002 12:57:08 PM PST by VaBthang4
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To: _Jim
Driver of the car was arrested and taken off...Not much more on that as of yet. Still alot of info coming in...I'll post more as I get it.
4 posted on 01/05/2002 12:58:00 PM PST by thermodynamics
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To: thermodynamics
Something similar happened where the NY State Thruway crosses the Cross Bronx Parkway in Yonkers a few years ago. Some idiot pulled out in front of a fuel truck, it caught fire, and it melted the overpass. It took about a year to fix it. I imagine this is an accident. I can't see an Arab terrorist getting that much of a kick from blowing up a freeway. They prefer to kill people.
5 posted on 01/05/2002 12:59:50 PM PST by Cicero
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To: thermodynamics
Is this related to Muslims in any way? Any Muslims around at the time?
6 posted on 01/05/2002 1:00:30 PM PST by crystalk
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To: _Jim
Same thing happened on a bridge on I-95 near Philly a couple years ago....that also took months to repair, as the bridge had to be replaced.

Tanker accidents are nasty. No reason to believe this was intentional.

7 posted on 01/05/2002 1:00:35 PM PST by John H K
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To: VaBthang4
Looks like it could be a FREAK accident. Fuel Tanker...But, certainly has Alabama Gov.s office and important authorities VERY interested and busy down there... But, again, LOOKS like a freak accident!
8 posted on 01/05/2002 1:00:44 PM PST by thermodynamics
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To: crystalk
Is this related to Muslims in any way? Any Muslims around at the time?

Of course it's related to Muslims...this is FR.

Your hemmorhoids were caused by Muslims, as well as that "D" your son got on his report card. The snowstorm in the Southeast was obviously caused by Muslims. My engine has a funny valve noise that I'm pretty sure was caused by Muslims.

9 posted on 01/05/2002 1:03:15 PM PST by John H K
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Comment #10 Removed by Moderator

To: thermodynamics
Here's what the Associated Press has to say (found link via washtimes.com) Looks like driver's last name was "Tubbs".

JANUARY 05, 16:45 ET
Tanker Truck Crashes in Alabama

By JAY REEVES

Associated Press Writer

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — A tanker truck and a car collided on a downtown interstate Saturday, killing one person and sparking an explosion and fire that partially collapsed an overpass at one of the state's busiest interchanges.

Three people in the car escaped unharmed. At least one person in the truck was believed dead, fire department officials said. No identities were released.

The explosion around 10:30 a.m. sent black smoke and fire billowing into the sky for about an hour.

Police spokesman Lt. Henry Irby said the 18-wheel truck and car were both northbound on Interstate 65 and collided right before the interchange with Interstate 20 and Interstate 59.

``The tanker slid up under the I-65 bridge and exploded,'' Irby said.

A 50-foot section of the four-lane overpass was sagging about 8-10 feet, and Irby said officials feared it would fall.

Emma Tubbs of Bessemer said her son was driving the car in the collision and called her saying he had been hit from behind. She wouldn't give his name.

``When it hit, the car just spinned and spinned,'' Tubbs said. ``We just thank God they're OK.''

William Needham, who was working on a billboard overlooking the interchange, said he heard brakes squeal then saw the trailer sliding on its side.

``As soon as it hit the pillars up under the bridge it exploded. It blew the cab off the truck. It probably went 50 feet up in the air and came down,'' Needham said.

Authorities did not immediately identify the truck's cargo. But Needham said it appeared to be a fuel tanker.

Police Officer Lee Taylor said the state Department of Transportation planned to remove the portion of the bridge and reopen the interstate as soon as possible.

The interchange, commonly called Malfunction Junction because of its many accidents, connects Tuscaloosa and Birmingham with a flood of traffic from south Alabama.

11 posted on 01/05/2002 1:08:10 PM PST by PoorRider
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To: crystalk
"Is this related to Muslims in any way? Any Muslims around at the time? "

Is this realated to Christians in any way? Any Christians around a the time?

Is this related Jews in any way? Any Jews around at the time?

Is this related to Hari Kristnas in any way? Any Hari Kristnas around at the time.

Is this related to Hindus in any way? Any Hindus around at the time?

Is this related to Buddists in any way? Any Buddists around at the time?

Is this related to satanists in any way? Any satanists around at the time?

Is this related to Druids in any way? Any Druids around a the time?

Is this related to pagans in any way? Any pagans around at the time?

12 posted on 01/05/2002 1:08:14 PM PST by Rebelbase
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There is no reason to knock cheese.
13 posted on 01/05/2002 1:08:31 PM PST by ofMagog
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To: John H K
Aw come on. I was just trying to decide if the story is a 3 day wonder in north Alabama, or some epoch making event that will alter the course of world events.
14 posted on 01/05/2002 1:12:00 PM PST by crystalk
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To: thermodynamics
Similar thing happened in Houston about 20 years ago. The police had pulled over a tanker underneath an overpass. A trailer dump out of Eagle Lake rear ended it. It burned so hot that it melted the steel in the overpass and the rebar in the section of road that they were on. That was closed down for most of a year.
15 posted on 01/05/2002 1:14:34 PM PST by thatsnotnice
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To: PoorRider
Just cause mama's surname is Tubbs, that's no reason to jump to conclusions about her son's surname... times have changed ;0)
16 posted on 01/05/2002 1:15:10 PM PST by Chad Fairbanks
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To: John H K
gee you are hilarious and so clever please stop oh please stop ha ha ha you are killing us with your wit
17 posted on 01/05/2002 1:16:54 PM PST by HighWheeler
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To: crystalk
"Is this related to Muslims in any way? "

There is a confirmed report that a man of Middle East origin lives in the nearby area. Proof positive that the incident is a terrorist act! Oh the humanity of it all. Waaaaaaah sh*t!

18 posted on 01/05/2002 1:18:58 PM PST by lawdude
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To: lawdude
Dig up all the mailboxes and send'em to the lab.
19 posted on 01/05/2002 1:29:25 PM PST by muawiyah
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To: Chad Fairbanks
It must have been that international terrorist, code-named "Tubbs". That must have been his mother, Jamileyh Tubbsudullah al-Ummahbomma. You KNOW Middle Easterners had something to do with this! Isn't this near a military base?
20 posted on 01/05/2002 1:39:04 PM PST by Thumper1960
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