Salt Water Tanker Ignites In Midland County
By: Karl Rundgren
Updated: February 28, 2013
MIDLAND COUNTY -- Smoke could be seen for miles after a tanker truck burst into flames along F.M. 1788 in Midland County Thursday.
Midland firefighters tell Big 2 that a tanker truck got a flat tire as it was driving along F.M. 1788 northwest of Midland International Airport around 12 PM Thursday.
The flat tire caused the truck to start sparking, and the driver pulled to the side of the road.
However, the sparks quickly ignited the truck itself.
The driver was able to get away from the burning truck, but the big rig suffered major damage.
"The truck is totaled out," Midland County Fire Marshal Dale Little told Big 2. "It doesn't look like the tanks going to be damaged, but the truck is a total loss."
The burned tanker was only carrying a few barrels full of salt water at the time of the fire, and none of the contents were flammable.
TXDOT crews had to close F.M. 1788 between Loop 40 and TX 191 as firefighters extinguished the blaze and emptied the salt water barrels into another truck.
The roadway reopened Thursday afternoon.
Midland firefighters tell Big 2 that a tanker truck got a flat tire as it was driving along F.M. 1788 northwest of Midland International Airport around 12 PM Thursday.
The flat tire caused the truck to start sparking, and the driver pulled to the side of the road.
However, the sparks quickly ignited the truck itself.
The driver was able to get away from the burning truck, but the big rig suffered major damage.
"The truck is totaled out," Midland County Fire Marshal Dale Little told Big 2. "It doesn't look like the tanks going to be damaged, but the truck is a total loss."
The burned tanker was only carrying a few barrels full of salt water at the time of the fire, and none of the contents were flammable.
TXDOT crews had to close F.M. 1788 between Loop 40 and TX 191 as firefighters extinguished the blaze and emptied the salt water barrels into another truck.
The roadway reopened Thursday afternoon.
