Haz-Mat Incident State Road 37

 

    This accident occurred on July 14, 2003 on Indiana State Road 37 when a tractor trailer didn't stop for the red light at the intersection of Vernal Pike just north of Bloomington Indiana. The semi hit two cars a pickup truck and a van. Both the semi and the van erupted into flames as the semi pushed the van up the highway.
Bloomington Township Department of Fire and Emergency Services responded Engine 15-1, Rescue 56, Tanker 57, and Haz-Mat 5. Mutual aid was given by Truck 2 and Rescue 1 from Bloomington City Fire Department. 
The driver of the van was pulled out of his burning vehicle by employees of a nearby business before fire units arrived. He escaped serious injury by just seconds.
The initial fire attack was made by Engine 15-1 from the west side of the truck and additionally from the east side by Bloomington City personnel upon their arrival.

    Extrication of two patients had to be performed on two vehicles; the red vehicle shown here on the left and the second vehicle (not pictured) just on the other side of the red vehicle. Extrication on the second vehicle was performed by Bloomington Township personnel while extrication on the red vehicle was performed by Bloomington City personnel.
The Bloomington Township Haz-Mat team was called to stabilize the saddle tanks on the semi.  The 2, 150- gallon tanks had just been filled earlier that morning.  The saddle tanks had both ruptured during the collision and subsequent fire to the extent that both tanks literally had the entire tops removed. The Haz-Mat crew used fuel stabilizer to gel the fuel and then packed the tops of the tanks with socks to form a secure cover.