Butane Tanker Crashes on San Diego Freeway

According to the DailyBreeze.com, on April 29, 2009, a tanker truck carrying over 8,000 gallons of flammable butane overturned on the San Diego Freeway. The accident occurred in the southbound lanes of the freeway shortly before midnight.

Officials say that none of the butane carried by the tanker spilled, and clean-up crews have safely cleared away the wreckage. So far, the cause of the crash has not been determined. One of the major issues confronting first responders in this type of accident is the possibility that butane has escaped from the tanker confinement. Since the gas is shipped under pressure, any breach in the steel liner of the tanker could be catastrophic. In 2008, a butane tanker truck overturned on a Wyoming highway and exploded, sending debris flying up to a half-mile away.

Butane is a highly flammable substance that is often used in pressurized cylinders as a portable fuel source for camp stoves. Butane is also used in cigarette lighters, as a refrigerant and as a propellant for hairsprays and other products. The gas is easily liquefied under pressure and very easy to combust.

Cargo trucks, semitrailers and tanker trucks create certain extra risks for motorists not only because of their large size. The cargo carried aboard these transport vehicles can create new dangers. If you have any questions about big truck accidents, please contact the Law Offices of Samer Habbas and discuss your concerns with an experienced auto accident lawyer.