Ongoing cleanup after BQE tanker explosion

(Woodside - WABC, January 17, 2006) -- Crews are working around the clock and earlier this morning they hoisted away the charred tanker. Right now, all southbound lanes and one northbound lane is open.

Eyewitness News reporter Ken Rosato is live in Woodside Queens with more on the story.

This morning traffic on the northbound side of the BQE seemed to be moving pretty well. The good news is the BQE is open.

The accident happened Monday afternoon when the truck carrying thousands of gallons of fuel overturned on the BQE.

Despite more problems Monday night, the Number 7 subway line is up and running again. And crews are scrambling through the night to get at least one lane of the BQE up and running in time for the morning commute.

It was still a very volatile situation late overnight. Crews had contained all the fuel, but so much had spilled that firefighters were bracing for another fire to strike- and it did.

The evening blast was prompted by sparks from teams that were removing a temporary overpass heavily damaged in the first incident. The sparks started a fire, and another explosion hit.

As the flames shot 30 feet in the air, a worker trapped on the span had to climb over a beam to safety. He was able to shimmy above the fire and escape.

Firefighters fighting the blaze with foam and water were dealing with leaks in parts of the tankers containers which were still full.

The truck was carrying 8,000 gallons of fuel when it crashed and exploded, sending out plumes of thick, black smoke which could be seen for miles.

The accident caused that temporary overpass to collapse, but no cars were under it at the time and amazingly no one has been hurt in the incident so far. Even the driver of the tanker escaped injury.

Some witnesses say the driver appeared to have lost control of the tanker. An investigation is underway.

All southbound lanes on the BQE are reopen and one northbound lane has reopened. Crews hope to have all lanes reopened during the afternoon rush hour.

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