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Driver Took Taxi To Hospital After Maze Crash

Monday, April 30, 2007

Apr. 29 - KGO (KGO) -- The CHP's preliminary investigation indicates the driver of the tanker truck was likely speeding when he lost control. He managed to escape before his cab was engulfed in flames.

Initially the tanker driver was taken to the Kaiser Hospital in Oakland but he's currently in San Francisco at St. Francis Memorial where there is a special burn unit. Throughout the day we learned more about how the driver made his escape. You will be amazed at this store of survival.

An ordinary yellow taxi became an unexpected ambulance when the driver of Sunday morning's tanker fire asked the cabbie for a ride to the hospital.

Tony, cab driver: "Not until he got closer and told me that he just got into an accident, he said 'I'm dying, I'm burning, please take me to the nearest hospital.'"

Tony does not want his last name released. The tanker driver walked 10 blocks from the accident to a gas station on West Grand Avenue where Tony was filling up.

Tony, cab driver: "He started crying at one point so we went to the hospital, he was really in pain."

51-year-old James Mosquedo arrived at Kaiser Hospital in Oakland at 4:51 am. Four hours later, he was transported to St. Francis Memorial Hospital's burn unit in San Francisco.

Mosquedo lives in Woodland in Yolo County. The CHP says Sabek Transportation hired him about ten months ago.

Mike Brown, CHP Commissioner: "The drivers have to be certified and licensed to transport hazardous materials. That requires an additional certification by the DMV and in some cases by the Office of Federal Motor Carrier Safety.

ABC7's Pamela Tom: "Was Mr. Mosquedo up on his certifications?"

Mike Brown, CHP Commissioner: "We're not going to comment at this time."

No one was available for comment at the Sabek offices in South San Francisco. Tanker drivers at a nearby fueling station say they usually work 10 hour shifts and receive two months of training.

Victor Tianco, Gulf Transportation Driver: "Safety wise they teach you how heavy the liquid is and the flash point, hazardous materials and stuff, and how you drive it, because it has some surge on the liquid flow, and slow down, that's the main thing, slow down."

Mosquedo suffered second-degree burns to his hands, arms and head. Tony the cab driver said a large portion of Mosquedo's hair had been burned away. But everyone agrees this man is lucky to be alive and he was very smart, he saved himself.

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