On Wednesday, June 4th, our preparations were interrupted by a terrible accident on I-75 near our home which affected and will change the way we do things for weeks to come as we prepare for the trip North.
A gasoline tanker truck, carrying gas and diesel, lost control and careened off the bridge at I-75 and Hwy 301, dropping 26 ft. to the pavement below. The explosion burned the driver over 90% of his body and burned the concrete bridge span with 2,500 degree heat so that the bridge was declared unsafe to drive on.
That evening, heavy equipment was brought in and crews have been working 24 hours a day to dismantle two spans of the bridge. It will take 6 - 8 weeks to rebuild.
The affect for us is traffic -- the extra load being put on local thruways, because the southbound lanes of I-75 have been closed. Officials are creating a two-way traffic pattern in the northbound lanes of I-75 but that will not be ready until June 9th. The local thruways have been jammed with heavy traffic. For the most part, we have stayed home and ventured out only when necessary, using the back roads and staying off of I-75.
Nobody was killed or injured, except for the driver of the tanker. He was quickly pulled away from his truck and flown by helicopter to Tampa Bay General Hospital. He is listed in critical condition.
1 comment:
The poor driver of the tanker did not survive but one night in the hospital.
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