Roads have reopened after a crash involving a tanker truck and a Broward County bus left one person hurt and erupted into a massive fire on Interstate 595.
It happened at around 10 a.m. Sunday, when a gasoline tanker that was traveling westbound on I-595 just east of Southwest 136th Avenue sideswiped a disabled and unoccupied Broward County Transit bus that was parked on the left shoulder, Florida Highway Patrol officials said.
The impact sent the tanker into the median, where it hit the wall and caused the fire.
Videos from the scene showed the downed tanker consumed by massive orange flames on the westbound lanes of I-595 as heavy, black smoke billowed from it.
NBC6’s Chernéy Amhara drove past the burning fuel tanker earlier in the morning and described the intense heat.
“I could feel the heat through my car,” Amhara said. “I could see as I approached a ball of fire.”
Davie Police and fire rescue responded and were able to put out the flames. Crews were seen spraying white foam on the tanker.
Authorities said the driver of the tanker was taken to the hospital to be treated for minor burns and was in stable condition.
The bus driver was unharmed.
Westbound traffic was diverted onto westbound State Road 84 at the exit to Hiatus Road for several hours.
Hours after the massive fire, tow trucks meticulously hoisted the fuel tank using cranes and began clearing the scene. The roadway reopened at about 8:50 p.m.