A fuel truck carrying 9,200 gallons of gasoline crashed into a building and caused a massive fire on Long Island yesterday. The driver of the truck lost control at the corner of North Centre Avenue and Sunrise Highway in Rockville Centre just after 1 am. The truck veered into a liquor store and a vacant La-Z-Boy furniture store before flipping over and bursting into flames. The fire quickly engulfed the building. The massive blaze and thick plumes of smoke could be seen for several blocks.
More than 150 firefighters responded to the scene. They were able to gain control of the fire fairly quickly. However, the driver and three firefighters were injured and taken to local hospitals.
Rockville Centre Fire Department Chief James Avondet said “When I came here, there was fire everywhere, the streets, the tanker, the two buildings…when I looked down Sunrise Highway, there was fire coming out of seven or eight manhole covers.”
Around 9,000 gallons of gasoline spilled during the incident. An unknown amount drained into local creeks and the sewer system but is being contained with booms. Chief Avondet stated “There’s no threat to the environment at the moment. There’s no threat to any of the citizens or any homes.”
Tanker truck holding 9,200 gallons of gas crashes, bursts into flames on Long Island
