Tanker Explosion Badly Burns Trucker

Jenny Albano

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On Friday, March 28, a tanker exploded and shut down Interstate 91 in Chicopee. The driver of the tanker became badly burned after being trapped inside the truck during and after the explosion. Over a dozen drivers stopped their vehicles to try and free the man from the wreckage but were stopped by the flames.

The driver was finally rescued and taken to a local hospital. The driver suffered third-degree burns over most of his body. The accident occurred after Victor Aponte got onto the highway and lost control of his car, which hit another car. Then Aponte's car hit the tanker which veered off the road and hit a guardrail and sign post. The trailer separated from the tanker, rolled over the guardrail and down the embankment as the cab and trailer exploded.

Meanwhile, Aponte's car was hit from behind by another car. Aponte's passenger Louisa Fonseca, 43, of Holyoke, was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries. No other injuries were reported. The driver works for Abenaqui Carriers of North Hampton, N.H. The tanker was carrying 9,500 gallons of gasoline and 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel, the company said in a statement. A spokesman for Abenaqui said he did not know the driver's condition.

Because of the crash diesel fuel spilled on the highway, but apparently the accident occurred in an isolated area so homes and businesses should not be affected. The fire that was caused by the accident burned for more than 90 minutes and the smoke could be seen for miles.