A raging fire engulfed a propane truck after it crashed into a railroad bridge in upstate New York, leaving a 60-year-old driver with horrific third-degree burns.
Photos and videos captured the horrific explosion in Glenville, New York, after the 18-wheeler tractor-trailer carrying propane crashed into the Maple Avenue bridge Thursday evening.
Flames reached up to 200 feet high and shock waves were felt more than six miles from the crash site.
The driver, Sylvester Basil Jr., 60, of Clute, Texas, suffered third-degree burns to his hands and face. He was flown to Westchester Medical Center.
“It was a significant explosion,” said City Manager Chris Koetzle. “It’s by far the worst bridge accident – by far.”
A raging fire engulfed a propane truck after it crashed into a railroad bridge in upstate New York, leaving a 60-year-old driver with horrific third-degree burns
Photos and video captured the explosion in Glenville, New York, after the 18-wheeler tractor-trailer carrying propane crashed into the Maple Avenue bridge Thursday evening
🚨#BREAKING: Propane truck crashes into railroad bridge, triggering massive explosion⁰⁰📌#Glenville | #New York ⁰⁰Numerous emergency responders are on scene in Glenville, New York, after an 18-wheeler tractor-trailer carrying propane crashed into a railroad bridge, causing an accident. pic.twitter.com/u8eX7FFARS
– RAWSALERTS (@rawsalerts) December 22, 2023
The National Grid map showed more than 1,200 people, including most residents and businesses in the east of the city, had lost power due to the crash.
Several households near the site were also evacuated.
“The vehicle was struck and three occupants were injured,” police said in a news release after the accident. “All were transported to Albany Medical Center.”
Videos and photos from the explosion site show a train traveling on tracks, but authorities said it suffered no damage.
“Given the amount of fire that started here, my guess is that the train was probably engulfed,” Glenville Police Chief Stephen Janik said.
Police said Basil had traveled from Pennsylvania to deliver a shipment to an undisclosed location about an hour north of the crash site.
According to authorities, he did not recognize the warning signs indicating a low altitude and crashed into the bridge around 6:30 p.m. on Thursday.
“He told officers during the investigation that he did not see the low bridge sign,” Janik said.
According to authorities, the driver was conscious despite severe burns and went to the ambulance himself.
Flames reached up to 200 feet high and shock waves were felt more than six miles from the crash site
Police said Basil had traveled from Pennsylvania to deliver a shipment to an undisclosed location about an hour north of the crash site
The National Grid map showed more than 1,200 people, including most residents and businesses in the east of the city, had lost power due to the crash
The fire was contained after emergency responders, including state and local police and fire departments, arrived at the scene.
Peter Sweet, a former nurse with 20 years of experience at Ellis Medicine, told the Daily Gazette that when he got home he saw the power going on and off and smoke billowing into the sky.
He followed emergency responders to the scene and helped treat the driver after posing as a nurse.
“I just kept him calm, asked him where he was from and told him I would take good care of him,” Sweet said. “But his hands were pretty burned.”
Police said Maple Avenue will be closed “indefinitely until the scene of the accident is secured and the investigation can be conducted.”
“I wouldn’t go anywhere near Hetcheltown.” [Road]Glenridge [Road] or maple,” said Koetzle.
In recent years, the city has become known for bridge collapses at several overpasses.
According to local reports, multiple collisions occurred on the nearby Glenridge Road bridge.
“We need to bring the state and the county together and address this issue,” Koetzle said Thursday evening.
“This is a very dangerous area.” “Tonight just underlines that,” he said.