Oil rig crash forces Californian residents to flee

Residents of Commerce in California were forced to flee after an oil tanker crashed on the freeway and the resulting spillage ignited.

The oil rig was carrying 8,000 gallons of crude oil when it hit the barrier on the freeway bridge in Long Bridge and caught fire on October 27th. It hung off the side of the bridge, leaving an oil slick across two lanes. Several nearby vehicles were burned and exploded as a result, these included two parked trucks that set alight as the oil flowed downhill.

Residents of the 1400 block of South Sydney Drive were forced to evacuate while the fire caught hold of nearby gutters and streets. However, no houses or businesses were reported to have burned.

Initially, the freeway was closed in both directions while fire services put out the flames. California Department of Transport sent officials to ensure that the freeway was still structurally sound before it could be reopened. After 90 minutes, the northbound lanes could be reopened while the southbound route had to wait until the following day.

Officials tested the air and water in the area to ensure that no environmental damage was sustained.

The driver of the truck was able to escape before the rescue crews arrived but was burned and suffered critical injuries, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

It added that a second person who was thought to be on the street below suffered moderate injuries.

The cause of the crash is currently under investigation. It is thought that the driver lost control of the vehicle after it suffered a flat tyre, causing him to swerve into the side wall.

Some reports suggested that two trucks had been involved in the crash but it was later revealed that it was only the one.

California saw another oil tanker crash in July when one carrying 8,500 gallons of crude oil burst into flames near the Elysian Valley. However, a spokesperson for the California Department of Transport said that this event could not be compared to the more recent crash.