Gas truck explodes on CR highway near Piarco airport; 2 injured

Photo courtesy Richard Hosein - www.movementforchangett.com

A gas truck exploded and caught fire Monday morning on the Churchill Roosevelt Highway between Trincity and Bhagwansingh's Hardware, near the exit from the highway to Piarco International Airport. However there were no deaths.

Reports say one person was seriously injured.

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) said in a media release that the tanker, operated by VKD Transport, collided with a tractor heading east on the Churchill Roosevelt Highway.

The driver of the oil tanker lost control, causing it to skid, fall on its side and exploded, the release said. The ODPM said the tractor heading east was also damaged but its driver suffered minor injuries.

A CEPEP team was working nearly cleaning the highway and workers rushed to offer assistance to the seriously injured driver of the tanker, who was sent to hospital in a civilian vehicle.

Immediately following the accident the Special Anti-Crime Unit of Trinidad and Tobago (SAUTT) used its helicopter service to provide aerial reconnaissance while representatives from the Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service (TTPS) rushed to the scene to assist the seriously injured driver of the tanker.

The Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service used foam to put out the blaze.

The accident caused a huge traffic pileup. Police had to divert traffic to alternative routes as a precaution.