UPDATE 11 a.m. February 21————————————-
A new mom is being hailed as a hero after she helped to rescue a tanker driver whose truck exploded in Indianapolis yesterday afternoon.
On Thursday afternoon, a tanker truck hauling jet fuel struck a guardrail and overturned on a ramp at I-70 and I-465 on the east side of Indianapolis, according to the Indianapolis Fire Department.
After the crash, the truck caught fire.
Thirty-five year old, Holly McNally, who had given birth to her son Connor earlier this week, was traveling in a car with her mom after visiting Connor in the hospital when she saw the tanker truck on fire.
McNally told WTHR, “I saw the actual semi on fire and then looked to the front of the semi and then I see a man on fire, like his head was burning. I told my mom, ‘I’m stopping and I’m going over there.’ and she’s like, ‘No you’re not.’ I was like, ‘I am.'”
McNally and another Good Samaritan, 50 year old Mitch Navarre, raced to the side of the burning tanker truck driver, later identified as 59 year old Jeffrey Denman.
The two were able to use a coat to try to put the fire out and save Denman.
Though McNally said that Denman was only wearing boots because his clothing had “dripped off” in the fire, she said that he was able to talk, telling her his name and that he’d been hauling jet fuel.
Worried now that about the jet fuel, McNally and Navarre carried Denman as best they could down an embankment.
A minute later, the tanker truck exploded.
Police soon arrived on the scene and Denman was taken to the hospital via ambulance.
Denman is still listed in critical condition as of Friday morning.
This is Holly McNally. She helped #rescue the driver of a jet fuel tanker that crashed just moments before it exploded on an Indiana freeway. Oh, and she just gave birth a few days ago and was on her way home from the hospital where her son is in the NICU. @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/z2Gm94tdx8
— Matt Rascon (@MattRasconNews) February 21, 2020
ORIGINAL REPORT————————————————-
Indiana State Police (ISP) are asking drivers to look for alternate routes after a fuel tanker caught fire on Thursday.
The incident was reported around 2 p.m. on the east side of Indianapolis at I-70 and I-465.
The driver of the semi was pulled out by a Good Samaritan. He is being transported to the hospital now
This will be a very extended clean-up and will affect rush hour traffic. Seek alternate routes @IFD_NEWS is in scene handling the fire now pic.twitter.com/aSj3QpEFG3
— Sgt. John Perrine (@ISPIndianapolis) February 20, 2020
ISP says that a tanker truck hauling fuel overturned on a ramp and then caught fire, sending up huge amounts of black smoke into the air.
According to ISP, a Good Samaritan pulled the tanker truck driver to safety. The driver has been taken to the hospital for treatment of unknown injuries.
I-70 & I-465 on the east side
Semi tanker hauling fuel has overturned on the ramp. Expect long delays pic.twitter.com/IILa99FiJ2
— Sgt. John Perrine (@ISPIndianapolis) February 20, 2020
Trooper say that there will be “very extended clean-up” on both I-70 and I-465 that will extend into rush hour. Drivers are asked to seek alternate routes
Massive fire near I-70 near I-465. @WTHRcom pic.twitter.com/nKJMVuRsvM
— Lindsey Monroe (@LindseyWTHR13) February 20, 2020