An overturned gas tanker exploded in Frederick, Maryland, on Saturday afternoon, closing the north and southbound lanes on U.S. Route 15 and the highway between Route 50 and 7th Street. The explosion reportedly occurred on Saturday afternoon around 12:40 p.m. ET.
#frederick big fire on interstate 15 in Frederick MD pic.twitter.com/6p66pLJRhT
— j (@jman87530075) March 4, 2023
Local residents captured on social media the massive fireball and large plumes of black smoke taking over the highway, and street signs and allegedly setting nearby homes on fire.
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"Frederick County Fire & Rescue are on scene of what appears to be a tanker explosion in the area," Frederick Mayor Michael O'Connor wrote on Facebook.
"Multiple vehicles and homes suffered damage from flames from the fire caused by the overturned tanker," Maryland State Police said in a statement.
HAPPENING NOW - Frederick County MD Fire/EMS are operating on multiple incidents right now.
— Christopher Olson (@COlson2848) March 4, 2023
1. Tanker fires
2. House Fires
3. Brush fire
4. Water Rescue #Breaking_News #breaking @alanhenney @AllisonPapson @CordellTraffic @MoCoPGNews pic.twitter.com/2w5WXT0I4X
There were long traffic delays due to road closures in the surrounding area of the fire.
US-15 @ Rosemont Ave (x14), STOPPED, truck fire (follow police direction ) #Frederick #MdTraffic #DCTraffic
— WTOP Traffic (@WTOPtraffic) March 4, 2023
Traffic ???? https://t.co/nb3VFR1abs
Listen ???? https://t.co/KpJlqpKxN7
Tipline: ???? 866-304-9867 pic.twitter.com/QlOmz9jUJV
The driver of the tanker died in the incident, but no other fatalities have been reported, according to the Maryland State Police.
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"I implore all residents to avoid the area to allow DFRS to do their jobs and prevent any fire from spreading," said O'Connor.
Emergency crews arrived on the scene Saturday, and it is unclear how the crash occurred in the western Maryland city.