Tanker Carrying Thousands Of Gallons Of Fuel Overturns, Catches Fire In Boyle Heights
BOYLE HEIGHTS (CBSLA.com) — Authorities say a double tanker truck overturned and caught fire Friday afternoon in Boyle Heights.
The accident happened at East 8th Street near the 5 Freeway on-ramp just before 4 p.m., according to Sky9's Stu Mundel.
Jorge Perez, the driver of the truck, told KCAL9's Dave Lopez that he was traveling on 8th Street when he attempted to make a slow left-turn into the entrance of the freeway when the truck tipped over.
"I just ran out [of the cab] because it was already on fire," Perez said, adding that he has been driving for more than 10 years, and has never experienced this kind of crash.
Perez said the truck contained 8,600 gallons of gasoline.
No injuries were reported.
At least one home and one vehicle sustained some damage, though, according to Brian Humphrey, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Humphrey said firefighters contained the blaze in about 20 minutes, and were working to cool the tanker.
No formal evacuations were ordered.
"We have about 4,000 gallons of fuel that have rolled downhill," said LAFD Deputy Chief Joe Castro. "We have to clean it up. It's a hazardous materials situation."
