Clay County, FL : Gas tanker truck crashes in Clay County on Tuesday, 10th March, 2020

A loaded fuel tanker truck crashed and rolled over Tuesday morning on Florida 21 near Keystone Heights, causing an a child care center evacuation and hours of traffic delays, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The crash occurred about 7:30 a.m. about a mile north of Keystone Heights, leaving one person with minor injuries and the two-lane highway shut down for hours as about 7,300 gallons of gasoline was safely transferred, the Highway Patrol said.

A Ford van and a Chevrolet sedan were traveling north on the state road near Woodland Drive as a Freightliner gasoline tanker was going south when the incident occurred. The sedan slowed to make a left turn, and the van rear-ended it after failing to slow in time, the Highway Patrol said.

The sedan was shoved into the path of the truck. The truck hit the sedan, then flipped over, sliding to a stop and blocking all lanes of Florida 21, the FHP said.

Emergency crews set up a 1,000-foot perimeter as Clay County Fire Rescue’s hazardous materials team used two high-pressure air bags to patch a leak in the tanker. The crew pumped the remaining fuel to an empty tanker after drilling a hole in it, then worked to haul the tank truck upright, Clay County officials said.

Truck driver Michael Bourne Williams of Orange Park received minor injuries, as the investigation continues, the Highway Patrol said.


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