Kearny, NJ : Tanker truck fire snarls traffic on New Jersey Turnpike on Wednesday night, Oct 7, 2015

A tanker truck overturned on the right shoulder of the New Jersey Turnpike and caught fire, killing the driver and sending billowing clouds of black smoke into the sky that could be seen as far away as New York City.

State Police announced Wednesday night that one occupant of the tanker truck died in the accident and fire, which broke out early Wednesday afternoon near milepost 110 in Kearny.

A sport utility vehicle was also involved in the accident, but its driver wasn't hurt.

Two travel lanes were shuttered, and the fire was extinguished about an hour later.

A mattress and a box spring were visible near the accident scene. State police say they apparently came off a van, causing the truck driver to encounter traffic that had slowed down.

Source:

State police: Tanker truck fire snarls traffic on New Jersey Turnpike, driver killed