Tanker truck ablaze on I-95 in Delray Beach leaves driver with severe burns, troopers say

One person is severely burned and several others injured after an overturned fuel tanker truck was engulfed in flames Tuesday afternoon — shutting down a stretch of I-95 in both directions, according to Florida Highway Patrol.

The accident, which occurred at around 1:15 p.m. just south of the Atlantic Avenue interchange going northbound, left at least six people injured, troopers said in an evening news release.

According to a preliminary investigation, a passenger vehicle was traveling north on I-95 when — for reasons still under investigation — it veered to the left lane and smashed into the truck. Both then headed towards the inside shoulder where the truck overturned.

In an effort to avoid the crash, a third vehicle moved to the left, striking the concrete median wall along the inside shoulder. A light pole then fell over onto southbound I-95 lanes, where it hit two more automobiles.

The collision caused the fuel tanker to rupture, setting a truck and two other vehicles ablaze.

Troopers say the driver of the vehicle that hit the median wall experienced severe burns; meanwhile the truck driver and at least four more people were also injured.

As of Wednesday afternoon, no fatalities had been reported, Florida Highway Patrol spokeswoman Lt. Indiana Miranda told the Miami Herald.

Fuel from the tanker also seeped into the southbound lanes, causing a second blaze, Delray Fire spokesperson Dani Moschella said. The fires were extinguished shortly thereafter, he added.

Delray Beach Fire, Palm Beach County Fire,⁩ Boca Raton Fire, Florida Highway Patrol and the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office all responded to the scene.

A previous version of this story incorrectly stated which vehicle first veered from its lane. It was a passenger vehicle.