LYNNWOOD, Wash. (AP) -- A fuel tanker exploded Saturday on the largest north-south roadway on the West Coast, creating smoke that could be seen for miles and halting traffic in both directions.
The 32-year-old driver survived, and there were no initial reports of any injuries, State Patrol Trooper Lance Ramsey said.
``It's absolutely amazing,'' Ramsey told Northwest Cable News. ``I'm surprised we don't have 100 injuries here with other vehicles in the area.''
It was not immediately known what caused the midday explosion on Interstate 5, in the Seattle suburb of Lynnwood. The smoke could be seen as far away as Bellevue, about 17 miles southeast of the explosion.
The truck driver was in satisfactory condition at Providence Everett Medical Center, a nursing supervisor said.
The fire was extinguished about an hour after the tanker exploded.
