Pattanakarn traffic resumed after gas scare
Traffic around Pattanakarn 20 Road where a LPG tanker crashed into a bridge railing and exploded is still closed and people are suggested to evacuate from the site.
Speeding tanker crashes and explodes on Pattanakarn
Traffic on Pattanakarn Road in Klong Tan district resumed at about 1.30pm on Friday after the driver of a tanker truck carrying 4,000 litres of LPG lost control and crashed into a bridge railing. The tanker exploded.
The vehicle burned itself out after eight hours. Firefighters were unable to put out the fire and had no option other than to allow it to burn itself out.
Explosions erupted at about 5.30am after the tanker truck crashed and overturned, causing the gas to leak before bursting into flames near Pattanakarn Soi 20.
The sounds of explosions were heard for a while and the blast shattered the windows of seven houses nearby. Nearby residents were evacuated for fear their houses might catch fire.
Police cordoned off a section of the road to both inbound and outbound traffic. Motorists were directed to use the local road along the railway parallel to Pattanakarn Road.
Nation Channel reported at least three people were injured in the fire and were being treated in hospital. One man who is severely burned, possibly the driver, is in the intensive care unit of Phetcharavej Hospital.
More than 10 fire engines rushed to the scene. Fire fighters reduced the spread of the gas by hosing the site, but the gas-fed fire in the truck continued as they were unable to close the gas valves to halt the flames.
They said the maximum load of 4,000 litres of gas carried by the tanker would disperse naturally until the tank was empty and the fire would eventually burn itself out.
Police investigating the accident quoted witnesses as saying the driver was speeding and lost control.
On September 24 1990, one of its double-tankers overturned while its driver was speeding leaving the expressway at the Phetchaburi exit at 10pm.
The LGP leakage caused an explosion and the fireballs engulfed helpless motorists trapped in traffic. A total of 59 people were killed and 89 others were injured.
