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Two Killed In Accident When Semi-Truck Fuel Tank Explodes

By Brett Emison

NBC affiliate KJRH has reported that the driver and passenger of a tractor trailer were killed in an accident on I-44 near Tulsa when the fuel tank of the semi ruptured and exploded.

A semi erupted into flames on I-44 and 33rd W. Avenue Sunday morning. The driver and passenger of the semi died at the scene.

Gornwiga Nation lives near I-44 and 33rd W. Avenue in west Tulsa and caught the fiery accident on tape.

She describes the scene as a giant fire ball.

"You can see from the video my hand was shaking," said Nation

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"We were hoping to help somebody, but the fire, it was just scary," said Hudson. "It was like the most scariest thing I've ever seen in my life."

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends and communites of those killed in this tragic event. Saddly, I suspect these deaths did not need to occur.

Car and truck manufacturers have recognized for years that vehicle occupants should be be killed by a vehicle fire if they survive the initial collision. The same is true for semi trucks.

Unfortunately, manufacturers often cut corners when designing and developing fuel systems. In tractor trailers, the onboard fuel -- diesel fuel -- is not nearly as volatile as ordinary gasoline. In fact, you can put out a match, by dunking it diesel fuel. Doing the same thing with gasoline would cause a violent explosion.

Many semi truck manufacturers place the fuel tanks in unguarded locations -- outside of the frame rails and exposed where minor collisions can rupter the tanks. More troubling, many semi truck manufacturers place cans of ether or other accelerants only inches from the unprotected fuel tanks. If both the ether can and fuel tank are ruptured, there is a high probability of explosion and massive fire.

It's time to hold these manufacturers accountable for such dangerous designs. You can learn more about fuel fed accidents and causes at our web site or at this recent blog post.

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Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brett Emison

Full post as published by Kansas City Personal Injury Lawyer on December 07, 2009 (boomark / email).