An allegedly speeding tanker-truck driver flipped his rig in Everett yesterday morning, unleashing a hellish tsunami of gas and fire that incinerated everything in its path, but miraculously took no lives.
"It was like a tornado of fire" said 39-year-old Mokhtar Goucem of Marlboro, who was watching television in the neighborhood with a friend about 1:40 a.m. when the crash occurred. "We go outside to see, the flames are 60 feet high," he said. "I was running for my life."
Hundreds were evacuated, a dozen families were left homeless and two triple-deckers and 21 vehicles were destroyed when the tanker's 9,400 gallons of gas ignited and rolled like a billowing wall of fire through the city's Sweetser Circle rotary and an adjacent neighborhood.
Tanker driver Chad LaFrance of Dover, N.H., was cited by Massachusetts State Police for speeding and not carrying his medical certificate.
"Witnesses say the tanker was going at an excessive rate of speed," state police Maj. Kevin Kelly said.
The rotary is regularly traveled by tanker drivers coming from an ExxonMobil tanker field in Everett. Truckers at the tank farm yesterday said at least 200 gasoline freighters circle Sweetser daily. It was unconfirmed where LaFrance had fueled up yesterday morning.
"Very obviously, large tankers full of gas should not come through these rotaries," said state Sen. Anthony Galluccio, who represents Everett. "It's not in the trucks' interest, it's not the most efficient route and it certainly poses a significant public safety danger. This obviously highlights what has been a serious problem for several years."
Kelly said that after the tanker hit a guard rail and ruptured, fuel began spilling down an embankment and "flowing onto the street below." That's when "30 to 40" cars caught fire and the street became a river of flames, Kelly and eyewitnesses told the Herald.
Firefighters from 15 surrounding communities responded.
"I've never seen anything like this in my 20 years of fighting fires," said Everett Deputy Fire Chief Michael Ragucci. "Hopefully, it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience."
Nearby residents were hastily evacuated, including about 84 residents of an elderly housing complex, some of whom had to be lifted over fences in wheelchairs.
The Red Cross yesterday set up a shelter for about 200 evacuees at a nearby armory. Kyle Sullivan, spokesman for Gov. Deval Patrick, said the state Department of Transitional Assistance was arranging temporary housing.
Residents of buildings adjacent to those that were destroyed near the rotary were permitted to return to their homes last night, fire officials said.
In 2006, the Sweetser rotary saw 61 accidents, including the rollover of an 18-wheeler, according to Terrell Harris, spokesman for the Executive Office of Public Safety. Yesterday's disaster was the first crash on the rotary investigated by state police this year.
The Department of Conservation and Recreation, which maintains the rotary, declined to comment on its safety.
"(LaFrance) was speeding," said DCR spokesman Wendy Fox. "Right now we're concentrating on getting the rotary cleaned up and traffic moving again."
Though human lives were spared, Everett Mayor John Hanlon said a dog and four cats were reported missing.
Joe Ferson, spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection, said containment booms were placed along the nearby Malden River and along a brook closer to the scene of the spill. Sewers and drains were being checked for gas and tests done for air quality.
A strong odor of gas permeated the air for blocks around the scene and traffic was diverted for miles.
"It could have been a lot worse," Kelly said.
Pending the outcome of their investigation, state police said LaFrance, who could not be reached for comment, may face additional charges.
The driver had walked away from the crash with just a thumb injury.
"Today was, in many ways, amongst all chaos, a day of thanks," Galluccio said. "The fact that no one was injured or killed is amazing."
A fund for the victims has been set up at Eagle Bank, 466 Broadway, Everett, 02148.
Republished with permission from The Boston Herald
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