Houston --
A tanker truck carrying gasoline exploded early Sunday morning after the driver apparently lost control on the connector ramp from the 610 overpass at the Southwest Freeway.
The explosion happened around 12:15 a.m. It rocked a small nearby community.
The freeway was shut down on both 610 and 59.
"I was sitting on my couch and I heard a boom and looked out my door and all I could see was flames and I yelled something just blew up," said resident Lisa Bailey.
The driver did make it out of the area safely. The Houston Fire Department confirmed the driver is the one who called 911.
The massive flames burned for nearly two hours.
"Units had a difficult time getting to the water supply because they had to lay 3,000 feet of hose up to the location," said Assistant Fire Chief Kevin Alexander.
After a structural analysis, Tex DOT confirmed the road will be close for at least the next couple of days.
Several portions of the ramp need new concrete.
The Texas Department of Transportation will check the freeway for structural damage.
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