Tanker crash leads to massive building fire

A tanker crashed into a building in Long Island on Wednesday morning, igniting a major fire that injured four. 

The accident happened at around 1 a.m. on February 16th in Long Island, New York. 

According to The Washington Examiner, the tanker truck hauling 9,200 gallons of gasoline crashed into a liquor store and a former La-Z-Boy furniture store after another driver cut him off unexpectedly. Both buildings were destroyed in the fire and an additional building was damaged. 

The truck driver was able to pull himself from the wrecked truck but was still transported to the hospital for his injuries. Three firefighters were also hurt while battling the flames. 

“When I came here, there was fire everywhere, the streets, the tanker, the two buildings, and when I looked down Sunrise Highway, there was fire coming out of seven or eight manhole covers. It’s one of the worst things I’ve seen in my 47-year career,” said James Avondet, the fire chief for the village of Rockville Centre. 

“We’re very glad if it was going to happen it happened at one o’clock in the morning with nobody else around.”

The fire did not threaten any nearby homes, but some fuel did leak into the sewer system and nearby creeks. Officials say the leak has since been contained and warn that they may be backups in the area throughout Wednesday.