TRAFFIC

Long Island Expressway crash: Propane tanks explode into flames after truck overturns

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

The driver of the flatbed truck told police he was cut off by another vehicle, and as he attempted to avoid that vehicle, the truck overturned and burst into flames.

CORONA, Queens (WABC) -- A truck carrying propane tanks overturned and exploded in flames on a Long Island Expressway exit ramp in Queens.

The westbound truck flipped in the exit lanes to Queens Boulevard just after 12 a.m. Tuesday.

The driver of the flatbed truck may have slid on black ice.

The FDNY says the truck rolled after it hit a Jersey barrier separating the westbound lanes of the expressway from the Queens Boulevard off-ramp.

The truck was carrying 294 20-pound propane cylinders, which went up in a fireball.

MORE NEWS | Fire truck slams into children's clothing store in Brooklyn

The truck, Engine 254, collided with a Mercedes at the intersection of Avenue U and East 4th Street at around 11:30 p.m. Sunday. The truck then slammed into the Coquette Kids cloth

Firefighters spent hours putting out the flames and cleaning up the propane tanks. The fire went to two alarms before it was declared under control.

The driver refused medical treatment at the scene. No other injuries were reported.

All lanes of the expressway reopened just before the start of the morning commute.

A car and a postal truck were also damaged in the fire.

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