NORTH PORT - Southbound I-75 remains closed near North Port after a fatal rush-hour tanker explosion, and it could remain that way for days.
A Florida Rock and Tank Lines tanker was carrying over 7,000 gallons of fuel when it drifted off the shoulder, then flipped over and slid sideways across the Big Slough Canal bridge in the foggy darkness.
The accident sparked an explosion and large blaze that apparently damaged the bridge. The as-yet unidentified driver was killed, and though no one else was injured, officials were immediately concerned about both the condition of the bridge and the water underneath it.
While much of the fuel on the tanker burned, some of it spilled into the waters of the canal. Environmental experts were still trying to determine the extent of the damage, but were confident that the drinking water supply would not be contaminated.
"The good news is that our water is safe. We're drawing water from the Peace River plant. We also have some reserves, but we don't really need them with the Peace River plant in operation," observed Stan Frank of the city of North Port.
Hours after the accident, the highway just north of exit 182 was still a smoldering scene of devastation. The mangled remains of the tanker were still strewn across the lanes, covered in white fire-retardant foam.
At its peak, the accident forced 24 miles of interstate. Northbound I-75 lanes had reopened by 10 a.m., but they were being intermittently re-closed to allow emergency equipment access to the closed southbound lanes.
Repairs to the bridge could take weeks; the fire did so much damage that the spans, deck piers, and roadway will all need to be replaced or repaired.
While that work is done, both directions of traffic will be diverted to the northbound lanes, choking traffic down to one lane each way between River Road and Toledo Blade Blvd.
"There would be one lane running each direction during that temporary time, and we would install a barrier wall between those two lanes of traffic," explained Mary Emma Dachelder of the Department of Transportation.
The incident marked the second time a Florida Rock and Tank Lines tanker rolled over and spilled in the last year. In March 2003, a tanker overturned under the Crosstown Expressway in Tampa; the driver was cited for running a red light.
Bob McRae of Florida Rock & Tank Lines deferred comment to the Department of Transportation.
