Highway overpass collapses near Detroit

July 16, 2009
The Michigan Department of Transportation is tending to one of its highway bridges this morning after a gasoline tanker truck reportedly exploded underneath the span, causing it to collapse.

The tanker truck was headed northbound on I-75 Wednesday night when it burst into flames under the 9 Mile Road overpass at about 8 p.m. Officials did not know how the tanker truck ignited. The overpass is about 10 miles north of downtown Detroit, and part of it dropped onto I-75 as a result of the explosion.

The Michigan Department of Transportation is tending to one of its highway bridges this morning after a gasoline tanker truck reportedly exploded underneath the span, causing it to collapse.

The tanker truck was headed northbound on I-75 Wednesday night when it burst into flames under the 9 Mile Road overpass at about 8 p.m. Officials did not know how the tanker truck ignited. The overpass is about 10 miles north of downtown Detroit, and part of it dropped onto I-75 as a result of the explosion.

There was one reported injury, and the tanker driver was alive and accounted for. I-75 is closed indefinitely between I-696 and 8 Mile Road. Roads & Bridges will provided more information when it becomes available.

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