The I-95 nightmare: Driver's remains found....

[PCIntern]

Apparently the driver has been found and identified, thus negating this fear of mine and some others.

**************

Call me naïve, but in my experience trucks which carry gasoline or other significant flammable petroleum products have a remarkably low rate of catastrophe, despite the action films of the 80s and 90s. Weirdly, not only did this truck explode under the busiest highway in the United States, but fascinatingly, and I don’t know about you, but I don’t think there are very many private citizens owning these trucks and driving them around. No petroleum company or distributor has been named in this and even the BP spill in the ocean, was immediately acknowledged by the company who owned the oil rig responsible for that nightmare. The governor and the police are staying very close-lipped as to cause and in concert with the published RW threat to “watch the bridges“, this is of great concern.

As many here remember, a Ryder truck was left outside of a federal building in Oklahoma City to “great effect“. Perhaps this Sunday’s explosion and fire is the warning shot over the bow and I fully understand why they are playing their cards close to the vest, but we as individuals need to keep our eyes open during this next political epoch, because it is quite possible that domestic terrorists, who may have learned a lesson from the January 6 riot, are going to resort to different means of “protest”, and I’m using that term quite loosely.

Remember, when the Republicans refused to acknowledge the existence of domestic terrorism? They may well have been aware of plans years in advance to make a move on the government and the sanctity of democracy. Yes I know I’m going a long way from a fire to the overthrow of the government, but at the very least this is how the movie starts. And we’ve all seen those movies…

[spanone]

1. K&R

[Easterncedar]

2. I wish your points weren't so good.

Thanks, sadly.

[we can do it]

3. I have similar thoughts. Also haven't heard of any injuries. Seems weird at least.

[Emile]

4. It is odd that they never mentioned anything about the

trucking company or if the driver was hurt.

[we can do it]

10. This is what makes me wonder.

[Freddie]

19. I read that the driver is missing, no other deaths or injuries

[2naSalit]

32. But that is all they say.

[Effete Snob]

108. Because they hadn't found the remains yet

Maybe nobody wanted to tell his three children he's dead on TV before his bones were found.

He had a god-damned family.

The world is not about the obsessive concerns of people on social media.

[BlackSkimmer]

37. I find nothing odd about a large (or small) company keeping their mouths shut about an accident

they either caused or to which they contributed.

Unlicensed driver? Illegal load? Driver ignoring CDL rules?

Every single large oil company would lie to their mothers if they thought they could get away with it. A sad fact.

[ProfessorGAC]

77. That's My First Instinct

As big a headache as this is, it doesn't cause the disruption that a terror attack would.
Secondly, this would be a dumb way to stage an attack. Unless they had a chemist or engineer AND a civil engineer on board, they could not have been sure the fire would cause a roadway collapse.
I'm inclined, as are you, to think this is a small fry laying low to avoid negative publicity they can't afford.

[2naSalit]

112. +1

[Rebl2]

41. I did hear

on a couple different channels this morning that there was also a car underneath the slab of pavement that collapsed.

[Effete Snob]

109. Three children

Maybe, just maybe, they don't announce on TV to someone's children that he's dead before they've even found his bones.


WTF is wrong with people?

[Emile]

113. WTF

[Effete Snob]

114. The driver had three children

They knew dad didn't come home from work.

But people on social media insist that their dad's name be all over the news as dead before his bones were even found.

It's fucking sick to go after a man who is out supporting his family and meets with a terrible fate as a MAGA terrorist, and to be "suspicious" that they aren't releasing his name, when it is simple fucking decency to hold off until the family is appropriately cared for and prepared.

But that's asking too god-damned much, apparently.

[BlackSkimmer]

116. Thank you.

Conclusion-jumping is a huge sport for so many, so it seems to me.

Very sad about the kids. No doubt his wife had already put two and two together.

[Emile]

117. Do you think the truck company is at fault? When was the

last time the truck had it's brakes checked? Many of these accidents involving big trucks are caused by equipment failure.

[Effete Snob]

118. That's going to remain to be seen

But I don't think the driver was a MAGA terrorist.

[Emile]

119. I never fucking said he was! WTF AGAIN!

[Effete Snob]

5. Bullshit

It's pretty obvious what happened...

[we can do it]

9. What happened is not questioned. Who is responsible for it is.

[Effete Snob]

11. A Kamikaze fuel truck driver!

[BlackSkimmer]

47. Yes, no doubt the driver thought that was a good way to go.

Thought no one ever.

[Iggo]

34. Yes, that picture clearly shows who owned the truck. Thanks for that.

[AllyCat]

60. Right.

[Effete Snob]

110. Whatever happened to humanity?

The man has three children.

They had not even found his bones yet, but you want his name plastered all over the media.

WTF is with the ghoulishness these days?

Can we have some respect for a dead man who is father to three kids?

[ShazzieB]

123. It does?

How does this show who owned the truck?

Sarcasm (if that's what this is) should be indicted as such.

[FalloutShelter]

6. Right you are PC

I mentioned something like this in your post yesterday and I used a tin foil hat emoji.
Nothing about the company owning the truck. Nothing about the driver of the truck. Nothing about how the explosion came about. Very sus.

[csziggy]

74. They could easily not have known what the trucking company was

After all, the truck was burning/burnt so no logos would have been visible. Then the truck was crushed under the span of the interstate so they could not get the license number or find the driver until now.

They did know/suspect that the reason for the accident was that the truck exited the interstate too fast, could not make the curve under the span, toppled, and caught fire.

Now that they have both the license and the identification of the driver, the authorities can investigate what the company was that owned the load and the composition of the cargo.

[KS Toronado]

99. Exactly what the ABC evening news said tonight.

"the truck exited the interstate too fast, could not make the curve under the span, toppled, and caught fire."
So, no domestic terrorism involved.

[csziggy]

100. That said, my first thought when I heard of the collapse was "Could it have been terrorism?"

Given what is happening now and the history of TFG's cult followers, I was willing to believe it - until I got more facts. I suspect that is only one of the reasons they were rushing to locate the driver and identify whose truck it was. The authorities likely wanted to be able to confirm or deny the possibility.

[KS Toronado]

101. You were not alone Ziggy

Most Americans were wondering the same thing.

[BlackSkimmer]

122. No, I really doubt that "most" were wondering.

I would imagine that "most" thought it was a tragic accident.

I've heard of similar throughout my life. They even used to call fuel truck drivers "suicide jockeys" back in the day in CB parlance.

A large modular home fell off a truck on a major interstate near here not too long ago. Closed all southbound and northbound for awhile.

Shit happens on highways.

[MiHale]

7. KnR...

There was a time some would say this belongs in Creative Speculation but unfortunately these are not those times.

[CurtEastPoint]

8. Same thing happened in Atlanta 2017. GA DOT stored flammables under the bridge (d'oh) and vagrants

had a fire going to keep warm and ... d'oh... the roadway collapsed. Eight lanes N and S bound closed for 4 months.

[Effete Snob]

12. This happened on an exit ramp....

[PCIntern]

14. Well, how else would you get there?

Teleportation?

Asking for a friend.

[CurtEastPoint]

24. Yes, I'm trying to figure out how my comments prompted that. No worries.

[Effete Snob]

31. Because it was not a storage area

This was not an overpass over some side street where things might be parked, stored, etc..

[TNNurse]

15. I thought of that yesterday.

[funkdatsheet]

57. One quick note

This was ARSON. Not to keep warm. It was late March. It was nearly 80F when the fire was started.

[marble falls]

70. Wooooooooooo. How about waiting a couple days for the police report? Rumors and speculation ...

... do not help. Do you live in Philly? Have you been on scene?

[csziggy]

75. I think they mean the Atlanta situation, not the one in Philly. nt

[marble falls]

79. Mea Culpa. As I get older I've become easier made indignant ...

[csziggy]

83. same here

[funkdatsheet]

128. It is totally cool.

Half the time I am not sure what I am talking about anyway!

[marble falls]

129. Being easy going will take you places here. A big welcome to DU!

[Ferrets are Cool]

13. Wow, my brain didn't even go there. OMG

[durablend]

16. Two lane off ramp

So maybe cut off by someone? Going from street view, there is one of those "trucks may tip over" warning sign on the side.

Though as everyone says, still odd no communication from the company

[RobinA]

17. It's I-95

in the northeast. People drive like suicidal maniacs on all parts of 95, but worse the more north you get. There are many accidents and fatalities, and if you've ever driven it you're probably surprised there aren't more. I know I breathe a sigh of relief when I exit unto I-476N on my way home from points south. And I love to drive and am not a nervous driver. I'll take Bad Driving That Didn't End Well for $100, Alex. Until I hear different.

[Tree-Hugger]

36. It's bad

I've driven that stretch probably a million times in my life and it can get pretty wild. I've witnessed a lot in terms of accidents, near misses, drag races, etc over decades. People also tend to not pay attention/panic to lanes ending at exits. I know people who refuse to take 95 from downtown to the far northeast or Bensalem because that stretch seems particularly bad. Either it's backed up traffic forever or it's the autobahn.

[eShirl]

43. 95 gets nice the further north you get from Boston.

[Tree-Hugger]

46. I've been on it

I've driven it through New England. I miss that whole area.

[obamanut2012]

72. It is also bad the further south you go from Boca Raton

It is as bad as any part of 95 from DC to Boston.

[Deuxcents]

95. We call it Die95 south of Boca..

We stay off it as much as possible

[Hortensis]

18. It seems obvious that this must be investigated for terrorism,

whether it turns out to be or not, which of course would explain careful control of information.

I was reading about the section of the underpass where the accident occurred, and the girders supporting the lanes above are steel, not steel-reinforced concrete, and thus vulnerable to failure due to fire should a huge one occur directly underneath.

Philadelphia Inquirer:

Steel melts at temperatures above 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the alloy used, but the metal starts to fail at temperatures well below that, Farnam said.

The metal loses about 20% of its strength at 750 degrees, and about half of its strength at 1,000 degrees, he said. Those temperatures are easily achieved with a tanker fire like the one that occurred Sunday morning, he said.

“When you have a fire like this and it lasts for a few hours, the yield strength of the steel decreases drastically, and it fails,” he said.

That doesn’t mean the bridge had a design flaw, he said. Given the tight space constraints, steel girders likely were the appropriate design choice, he said. “You don’t expect an outdoor structure to experience fire,” he said.

https://www.inquirer.com/news/live/i95-collapse-philadelphia-bridge-fire-map-news-update-20230612.html

[marble falls]

20. I've seen one these in Austin about 15 years ago, and one that compares with this in Ohio ...

... about 30 years ago. In the Ohio crash - just the tanker, the rig was company owned and the driver was unlicensed.

I get your fear, but another incidence in austin tells me this is an industry thing I was behind a tractor pulling a van that had hit a pice of metal on 35 in the middle of town and ruptured his outboard tanks and was spraying arosolized diesel at 45 mph in the start of rush hour. I called the trucker's company and they acted like 'thanks for calling, don't worry."

Looking up that Ohio fire, this is just a sample of truck fires in 2022 alone, and there are more:

ODOT) Truck fire on Ohio Turnpike News / Apr 28, 2022 / 08:49 AM EDT.
https://www.nbc4i.com › news › one-dead-tanker-on-fire-in-ohio-turnpike-crashes
One dead, tanker on fire in Ohio Turnpike crashes - NBC4 WCMH-TV

WAUSEON, Ohio (AP) - Authorities say at least one person is dead and a tanker carrying 3,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen burst into flames following multiple crashes in northwest Ohio. The State ...
https://www.wkbn.com › news › local-news › semi-truck-catches-fire-on-ohio-turnpike-destroying-its-load
Semi truck catches fire on Ohio Turnpike, destroying its load

Semi truck catches fire on Ohio Turnpike, destroying its load by: WKBN Staff. Posted: Feb 8, 2021 / 10:31 AM EST. Updated: Feb 8, 2021 / 10:31 AM EST.
https://www.facebook.com › WFLANewsChannel8 › videos › semi-truck-explodes-into-fireball-along-ohio-turnpike › 695549114829283
Semi-truck explodes into fireball along Ohio Turnpike - Facebook

Apr 28, 2022semi-trailer truck, Ohio, video recording | 48K views, 212 likes, 1 loves, ... video showed the moment a semi-truck carrying a highly flammable resin or glue exploded into a massive fireball on the Ohio Turnpike Wednesday evening. https://bit.ly/3KueT7Y ... God Bless our Fire fighters. 13. 49w; 4 Replies. View more comments.
https://www.cleveland19.com › 2022 › 04 › 28 › truck-engulfed-flames-shuts-down-turnpike-i-90
Trucks engulfed in flames shuts down Turnpike at I-90 (video)

Apr 28, 2022The fire started around 8:15 p.m. on April 27 near Middle Ridge Road in Lorain County. OSHP said both the eastbound and westbound lanes were temporarily closed from the I-90 Lorain Exit (exit 142 ...
https://fox8.com › news › what-caused-semi-crash-on-ohio-turnpike-that-lead-to-fire-explosions
Ohio turnpike crash: What caused massive fire and explosions
Apr 28, 2022Massillon 11-year-old among more than 100 child porn victims. Another semi-driver hit that truck, ran off the road and hit the concrete median. Both semi trucks caught fire. One of the semis was ...


The truck I remember was on the turnpike, too. In the middle of a span across the Cuyahoga Valley. Shut the west bound span for months.

[Marthe48]

26. Thanks for the reassuring, not reassuring post

Reassuring that trucks explode often, and this just might be another truck explosion. Not reassuring that trucks explode often.

I didn't like the comment in the post 'resin or glue' I think the truck logs should show EXACTLY what the truck is hauling. We are learning the hard way that deregulation seems to be a go-ahead signal to corporations to play fast and loose with overall safety concerns. At the very least, first responders should know what kind of toxins they are exposed to and that should be the first damned item after the license plate comes up.

[marble falls]

29. My point is that the industry and it's profit only thinking is more dangerous than terrorist ...

... semi drivers.

More safety checks and higher sanction as well more enforcement would cut this down pretty quick.

Have you ever looked at truck crash videos on youtube. That'll really get you: how many are caused by cars or too much speed on curves at exits and entry ramps. I think this one in Philly was on a ramp that under-passed the highway.

[Marthe48]

66. I agree

When I read the phrase I put in quotes, I was thinking of the train wreck near E. Palestine, Ohio and that first responders and residents had no clue what products were in the derailed and flaming train cars. Also, all of the deregulation by r's makes it a lot easier for any industry to cut corners and make risky decisions. I know if regulations are imposed again, the industries affected will pass any costs along, instead of cutting into their dear profits.

But, even if I'm reassured that this is probably not an act of terrorism, still very concerning that there are so many wrecks involving chemicals and God knows what else.

[EX500rider]

76. The drivers HAZ MAT shipping papers have to be kept on the seat or in a door pouch

Most likely burned up with the cab.
The trailer would also have the HAZ MAT product ID diamonds placards on each side of the truck/trailer but may have burned up also.
(I've been a HAZ MAT driver since 1987)

[SheilaAnn]

21. Have you made it into your office this a.m.? Hope all is safe and well. n/t

[PCIntern]

38. Thank you

No issue for my route in or out.

[niyad]

22. Yikes, you said exactly what my first thouht was.. Please be safe out there.

[Marthe48]

23. I found this news clip MSNBC 19 hrs ago

They haven't been able to look under the rubble to see if there are victims. Maybe we'll hear more news about this explosion as the day goes on.

[SpamWyzer]

25. I have to say

that some of this has been in my mind, especially since the gas tanker exploded under I-95. Be prepared to defend the nation against the terrorists. That is all.

[doc03]

27. We don't know what caused it at this time. But my fear is even if it was an

accident it may give the MAGA traitors ideas. After 911 I remember worries of terrorists using fuel trucks
for this kind of attack. I would not be surprised if there is a copycat soon.

[enough]

28. Sounds like you didn't actually read the OP.

Nobody is arguing about what happened physically.

[3Hotdogs]

30. If it is an accident, accident, somebody's gonna wonder

why the ain’t got their fuel delivery.

If it is a Bugaloo or Proud Boy, the effort does no good unless they take credit and issue a warning about what will happen if Dear Leader is convict.

[AllaN01Bear]

33. interisting angle. if true then i will blame the usual suspects.

[Hugin]

35. It certainly warrants careful investigation...

As it does have some indicators of something other than an accident.

Like the RV explosion at the phone hub on X-mas day and the dude with the nail gun.

Now all the loons need is 599,999 more kamikazes driving gas cans and it’s a slam dunk.

[Hugin]

42. That's not to say there's not a huge helping of stupid in the modern world...

For example, I once exited a rest area latrine to find a driver venting a liquid oxygen tanker in the lot. I hopped in my vehicle and floored it to put at least five or six miles between me and that scene. Saying only “Hang on kids!”

An over reaction? Maybe… But, I am also not a statistic.

[EYESORE 9001]

39. This is recent

It's not yet known if the driver was still in the truck when the fire began. Police sources tell Action News that the truck driver remains unaccounted for.

Sources say he is an experienced driver, and that something likely happened as he was coming off the ramp of the highway. There is no word yet on his identity.
Sources tell 6abc Action News the tanker truck was carrying 8,500 gallons of 87-octane fuel.

https://6abc.com/i-95-collapsed-in-philadelphia-fire-overpass/13371656/

Took ‘em long enough to identify it publicly as gasoline. Further delay in telling the public what it was could have caused panic.

[RobinA]

67. Panic Over

a fiery truck accident on 95 in Philadelphia? Not in Philadelphia.

[Joinfortmill]

40. I hear you.

[Justice]

44. I scoured local Philly news looking for name of truck company - nothing

A few months ago, an oil truck was involved in a crash on 95 in Connecticut (on a bridge). The name of the company was disclosed within hours of the crash in local news (not really picked up in regional or national news).

I thought they couldn't see the truck because of the highway collapse, but imagine there are cameras around the highway and ramp.

[Deminpenn]

106. The driver was identified by his brother

The collapsed part of the roadway has been removed and the driver's body recovered. NTSB is investigating the accident.

[Effete Snob]

111. Because a lot of news people have basic decency

They had not found his bones yet so, no, they don't announce to his three children on TV that he's dead.

Thanks for coming to my TED talk.

[MineralMan]

45. Well, I Doubt It Was Terrorism

Why? Because that tanker truck had to get filled with gasoline. Stuff's expensive, and is generally billed to a company known to the fuel distributor. I can't really imagine how someone could drive an unmarked tanker truck into the fuel distribution site and buy that much gasoline without any question.

Drivers don't pay for the gasoline when they fill the tank. Nobody does that.

So, wherever the gas came from, the truck was identified and the fuel was billed to a known customer.

I suppose someone could steal a full tanker truck at a truck stop or a rest area, but that would have been immediately reported, I'd think, by the driver who came out to find the truck gone.

I think they just don't know yet what company's truck or fuel that was.

[Zeitghost]

65. Completely agree

You don't buy a tanker load of fuel cash and carry with no receipt.

And if you did jump through all the hoops to get a tanker full of gas, you wouldn't ignite it by wrecking it on a freeway off ramp. Too many variables to control. Much easier and more effective to park it and blow it in a strategic place.

[EX500rider]

78. Actually I pay my supplier on the spot for my bulk gas/diesel purchases by check.

I get a lower price that way.

But I have a fuel/pollutants & a sale tax license from the State of Fla and a HAZ MAZ license from the FEDS and a Fla Class 1 HAZ MAT/tanker truck drivers license and my supplier knows me well.

[MineralMan]

84. Gotcha...I mean it's remotely possible,

but I still thing highly unlikely.

[EX500rider]

85. Yeah they'd want to see a bunch of paperwork 1st before selling to somebody new. nt

[ShazzieB]

125. Thanks for injecting a note of sanity...

...into this crazy discussion!

I don't think for a minute that this was anything other than a tragic accident. People need to take their tinfoil hats off for a few minutes and try to think logically. The facts of the situation do not add up to any kind of terrorist plot.

[Deminpenn]

48. Presumably you live in Phila

If so, you know there is literally an accident every day on 95, many of them involving tractor-trailers.

[BumRushDaShow]

52. That's why I try to avoid it.

Jack-knifed tractor trailers and/or one that can't negotiate a ramp so they completely block the ramp.

I mostly used it to go south towards D.C. for work trips, but back when I was just out of college and substitute teaching in northeast Philly, I used to hop on 95 I think at Allegheny near where I was teaching in Port Richmond and Kensington, and then zoom up to Cottman near where the-then (School) District 8 building was to pick up my paycheck and avoid Richmond Ave. to get up there.

[BumRushDaShow]

49. I think that was at the Cottman Ave. exit

and we know how busy Cottman Ave. normally is.

I heard some interesting detour/work-arounds announced on the radio this morning that seemed to at least take some bite out of what would be a traffic nightmare.

Tomorrow is the last day for public schools (kids) and Wednesday for teachers (who have a full day training (professional day), which might help to ease some neighborhood congestion.

I know I had been hearing for months that there had already been ongoing construction up that way which included the closure of the Harbison exit - https://95revive.com/news/i-95-north-ramp-to-bridge-street-harbison-avenue-exit-27-permanently-closed/

Map of where I believe this current collapse happened (area circled in red to the far right) -



Only reason why I don't suspect "terrorism" is that for some reason (and maybe that is good), there is a collective national AMNESIA that this city even exists despite it being the 2nd largest in population on the east coast and where both the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution were written (far too many think those documents were written in "Washington D.C." or "Boston" or "New York" and even think Independence Hall is in one of those other cities ).

I always wondered if it was because the city's name was too long having 12 letters in it and it was just too cumbersome for lazy reporters and even non-local weather forecasters, to include in their reportage... at least other than some idiotic "Rocky" or "cheesesteaks" mention.

[Tree-Hugger]

73. There is always construction there

I swear. Maybe I'm exaggerating, but I feel like it's perpetually under construction. Haha.

I said in another comment that I have traveled that exact section probably millions of times over decades. It's terrible and I've frequently witnessed accidents and near accidents as well as a lot of shitty driving, drag races, random cars at 90 mph+. It's not some calm stretch of highway. I'm not shocked at a firey truck explosion. I lived off of one of it's main offshoots for most of my life and have aeen my fair share of car and truck fires out the kitchen window. Another day in Philly.

You are right about the amnesia. This particular stretch of road approaches far northeast Philly....a location so mythical and magical that even Philadelphia forgets it exists.

Another thing is that this is not going to all out stop travel. You've got the Blvd, turnpike, 295 among some big alternatives and State(the open part), Academy, Frankford, Torresdale among some medium alternatives. I read CTs elsewhere that this was done to prevent "escape" out of Philly.

[BumRushDaShow]

91. I think they have had long-term construction on 95 from downtown up to the NE for improvements, etc

I guess this might delay some of that now. They said they are going to have to take out both spans, North and South, and then re-do them.

I know the Tioga Marine terminal with all those fruit shipments, is not that far south from there and of course that is near the Betsy Ross and Double-Nickel (back in the day... lol) Bridge (Tacony-Palmyra).

[Deminpenn]

104. That Cottman exit is terrible

Used it a few times, but to get to the entrance ramp, you have to go through neighborhood streets.

[JustAnotherGen]

50. Reasonable Questioning

I cannot forget the whackaloons who have taken the power recently?

I put nothing past these people.

[brooklynite]

51. So the civil war begins...

…by damaging a part of a highway in an inauspicious neighborhood far away from population centers or any target of political significance, resulting in…::longer commutes?

Life is not a series of conspiracy theories.

[PCIntern]

54. WHAT????

Do you have the least idea of what you’re talking about? It’s 160,000 vehicles a day including major truck and shipping traffic because of the ports of New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore as well as all other transport of goods. And as far as not being near a population center, it’s 4 miles from the center of the largest city outside of New York on the east coast. and in addition to that it is the major highway for military transport up and down the East Coast, which included the vehicles sent to lower Manhattan on 9/11.

[brooklynite]

61. I DO have an idea of what I'm talking about...

I went to college in Philadelphia and I’m a transportation planner.

It’s a busy highway like thousands of other —but not as critical to commerce as the NJ turnpike. And if you wanted to “send a message” there are more significant sections of the highway to attack.

The big problem I have is that this seems to derive from “Its what I thing RWers WOULD do, and “the authorities haven’t given ME all the details less than 24 hours after the incident”.

[PCIntern]

68. You may have gone to college here, but I've lived here for 70 years and

Your statement is valid as the statement: why would anyone want to blow up a federal building in the middle of Oklahoma, in the middle of freaking nowhere? Perhaps because they can…

I did not say that this was a terrorist incident, I simply remarked that it had all the markings of it and the powers that be have not made any statement, which they normally do make, saying that it is not believed to be terrorism

[BumRushDaShow]

120. "but not as critical to commerce" - WTF?

The NJ Turnpike segment is just one part of I-95 like the part in PA, except that the part in PA is running parallel to multiple piers that are part of the Port of Philadelphia and gets all kinds of stuff to transport (with container ships going up and down the river daily) -







They unload those containers at specific piers located from South Philly up into Northeast Philly (depending on cargo type as some piers are refrigerated and handle food), where there is a big terminal just south of where that I-95 damage occurred, and then hook the trailers to truck cabs, and those tractor-trailers hop right on I-95 and head north or south to get to I-476 (N/S), I-76 (E/W), or I-276 (PA Turnpike), the latter usually to head west. Similarly down in South Philly, this happens with the cargo planes unloading at PHL (e.g., UPS), where the trucks can hop on I-95 from the airport.




Meanwhile, the NJ segment cuts diagonally across the center of the state nowhere near ports except near Philly or near NYC.

[The Jungle 1]

53. Just keep in mind when 3 mile island went down the government said everything was under control.

It was not under control and a huge disaster got narrowly diverted.

The fact that the driver is missing and they have not announced the name of the trucking company makes my hair stand up.

[IronLionZion]

55. That's an odd conspiracy theory

What could be the target or motive? to block traffic on a busy highway? It doesn't seem like a high value target. It is likely an accident.

[Historic NY]

56. The drive around is going to cause increased havoc on the NJ Tpk choke-point

but there are ways across the Delaware River.from PA.. The New Jersey Tpk 295 is the straight thru to the Delaware Memorial Bridge. and 95 south so it won't be effect other than the 'normal' why are we stuck in traffic .

https://www.njta.com/travel-resources/travel-map]

[AllyCat]

58. When I heard this story, I thought...

…”what a fantastic and cataclysmic coincidence”.

[txwhitedove]

59. I'm still worried about the 60,000 lb of ammonium nitrate missing from rail hopper

last month. After the last 5+ years, we all should be hyper wary.

[Fla Dem]

62. I don't discount a terrorist conspiracy theory, but there may be a more logical explanation.

Last edited Mon Jun 12, 2023, 01:05 PM - Edit history (1)

The truck/tanker was too big to go through the underpass. It struck the overhang as it entered the underpass, smashed the tanker and any sparks, friction, or electrical connections ignited the oil escaping from the tank. As you can see the major damage is at the entrance to the underpass, and that is the side that collapsed.

It very well could be an act of terrorism given today's environment, just offering another explanation.

[EX500rider]

81. No, all interstate over passes are built to allow tanker trucks to pass under

More likely is too high of speed on the curve resulting in a roll over or jackknife with bad results.

Tanker trucks have a very high center of gravity when full and can roll over even at the posted exit speed. (that's one of the questions on the HAZ MAT/tanker truck DL exam)

[Fla Dem]

94. Ok, Thanks. That works.

[Mr. Sparkle]

63. This is one of my favourite sayings lately

"never assign malice what can be attributed to incompetence" . It explains most of the outcomes we read and hear about.

[ShazzieB]

126. ***EXACTLY.***

[moondust]

64. The possibility crossed my mind yesterday.

I thought I heard yesterday that the truck's driver had not been found.

3/9/23: Software Engineer Who Allegedly Blew Up Power Station Had Even More Bombs at Home

How the US power grid is a target for far-right groups

[JHB]

69. But they do happen from time to time

I remember a truck fire under a bridge (highway overpass) on Long Island (a while back. ten years?). IIRC, the bridge didn't collapse, but it was weakened to the point where it was no longer safe and had to be removed and replaced.

And its hardly the only one. I couldn't find it in the news reports because of the sheer volume of other truck fire reports.

[Sky Jewels]

71. Thom Hartmann wrote about the possibility of intentional bridge destruction:

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/6/12/2174903/-What-is-the-Endgame-for-a-Party-of-Violence

[FelineOverlord]

80. Poor man 🥺

Link to tweet

[EX500rider]

82. Got complacent and was in a hurry would be my guess.

I have been a HAZ MAT tanker truck driver for 36 years and my guess is too high of speed on the curve resulting in a roll-over or jackknife with bad results.

Tanker trucks have a very high center of gravity when full and can roll-over even at the posted exit speed.
(that's one of the questions on the HAZ MAT/tanker truck DL exam)

[MineralMan]

86. Perhaps you jumped the gun a bit?

[PCIntern]

89. No I don't think so

Last edited Tue Jun 13, 2023, 10:26 AM - Edit history (1)

I believe it was not unreasonable to posit that there may have been a nefarious motive behind this catastrophe. When asked specifics, the governor, the mayor, and other officials deflected the questions by saying that it was an ongoing investigation. Obviously, they thought it was a possibility and apparently that is not the case. I have no problem in this environment being very suspicious of anything untoward which happens to infrastructure or individuals and I apologize for nothing in this regard.

[MineralMan]

90. OK.

[BlackSkimmer]

115. Lol. nt

[MineralMan]

87. Since you did not link to the story about the driver being identified:

I will:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143087112

[BlackSkimmer]

102. Thanks for that.

[colorado_ufo]

88. My sister almost died in one of these catastrophes and lost her six month old daughter, my niece.

Sis was stopped at a railroad crossing, signal arm down. Gasoline truck behind her. Young driver thought that he could beat the train and went AROUND her. Train hit the truck midsection, and it broke in half, one half landing on my sister's car and trapping her and the baby. Smoke. Driver was thrown clear, ran back and pulled my sister screaming through the window, could not get to the baby, trapped under the wreckage. Burst into flames. Bar and grill across the street ignited, seven people there burned to death. My sister was found wandering the street in shock.

Made national news. It happened in a suburb of New Orleans, but it was on the second page of my local paper here in Western Colorado.

These things are rare until they happen to you. And these trucks CAN burst into flames.

Sis wound up in a divorce and remarried, a much older man, but had no more children. She has made a decent life for herself, but it has greatly affected her to this day. She has flashbacks and nightmares. In fact, just a couple of days ago, after 40 years, she just got rid of Heidi's pacifier.

Thank you for letting me rant a bit. Little Heidi and I shared a May birthday, and every birthday is bittersweet for me and for my sister.

[yonder]

92. What an awful thing to have happen to your neice and sister.

Thats a lifelong tragedy for your entire family.

My heart goes out to you and yours.

[colorado_ufo]

96. Thank you so very much for your kind thoughts.

I thought that I would include a few sentences about after the accident. So often we don't know "the rest of the story," as Paul Harvey used to say. Again, your kindness is greatly appreciated!

[Hekate]

93. Thank you for that cogent yet insomnia-inducing commentary, PC

Ai yi yi

[SleeplessinSoCal]

97. Pete Buttigieg heading to the scene...

Cousin remembers truck driver killed in I-95 collapse in Philadelphia

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/cousin-remembers-truck-driver-killed-in-i-95-collapse-in-philadelphia/ar-AA1ct4qd

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/i-95-collapse-in-philadelphia-what-we-know-about-the-tanker-truck-driver/ar-AA1crU1r

[KentuckyWoman]

98. Honestly?

A few years ago I might have wondered if your tin foil hat is too tight. Today I read your post and thought good point, maybe so.

How in the world America went from Obama to Trump is appalling and horrifying. I keep expecting to wake up to find out it was all a nightmare.

Good post. Thank you.

[BlackSkimmer]

103. Sooo...just a bad accident then?

Sorry for the driver, but thank goodness no more were injured or killed.

Damn shame for all the fuel spilled.

[Deminpenn]

105. Yes, saw a report on the local news last night

that the driver was going too fast for the curve, lost control, the truck tipped over, the tank ruptured and caught fire.

The video showed the collapsed section of road has already been removed. I'll bet the road is re-opened by Labor Day.

[Effete Snob]

107. He has a name too

The guy you smeared has a name and three children.

Maybe next time hold back on slandering other people before you know anything.

[obamanut2012]

121. +1

[ShazzieB]

127. Amen to this!