A semi truck hauling propane tanks caught on fire early Tuesday morning, causing a string of small explosions that shook the neighborhood.
The accident happened at around midnight on December 22nd in the Queens neighborhood of New York City.
I’m safe, this seems to be across the highway and I have my bug out bag if I have to evacuate but WHAT JUST HAPPENED pic.twitter.com/o8mhKO57re
— God Rest Ye Merry Nellamen (@Nellachronism) December 22, 2020
According to NBC New York, the semi truck was traveling west on the Long Island Expressway when it was cut off by a motorist. As the truck driver hit their brakes to avoid the motorist, the rig skidded on black ice in the roadway, causing the semi truck to roll. The force of the impact ruptured the propane tanks and sparked a fire, which quickly engulfed the wreck rig.
As the fire spread throughout the rig, multiple propane tanks exploded, forcing the closure of the westbound lanes of the Long Island Expressway at Woodhaven Boulevard. Residents of the neighborhood reported flames, smoke, and small explosions, and were able to catch some of the wreckage on video.
Luckily, the truck driver sustained only minor injuries in the wreck. They refused medical attention on scene.
It is not clear what citations, if any, have been issued for the incident.