The driver of a tanker carrying approximately 10,000 gallons of gasoline was seriously injured after his vehicle overturned, caused a fire that damaged multiple Rockville Centre businesses.
The tanker crashed into a vacant La-Z-Boy furniture store at North Center Avenue and Sunrise Highway and quickly spread to other businesses. Fuel runoff got into the sewer system.
"I looked down Sunrise Highway... there was fire coming out seven or eight manhole covers, all the way down, about a quarter mile down Sunrise Highway," Rockville Centre Fire Department Chief James Avondet told WABC 7 New York. "It was one of the worst things I've seen in my 47-year career,"
Port Authority Police Department airport crash trucks were dispatched from JFK Airport to assist with the blaze, according to a post by NYC Fire Wire.
The tanker driver was transported to an area hospital to be treated.
Two firefighters were transported to the hospital for unspecified injuries.
