Monday afternoon's emergency on northbound I-75 above Big Beaver Road. Both directions "will remain closed for some time," Troy police say. (Photo: WDIV video)
► Update: One southbound lane on I-75 through Troy reopens Tuesday night and one northbound lane becomes available sometime Wednesday, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) says.
To limit traffic in that area of a Monday fuel tanker fire, northbound ramps at 14 Mile, Rochester and Big Beaver roads won't reopen immediately. No word yet on when they'll be unblocked.
Original article, Tuesday morning:
A Michigan trucker managed to survive this wreck Monday afternoon on I-75 with just small burns, according to Troy police. The highway, however, was heavily damaged as 10,000 gallons of gasoline and 4,000 gallons of diesel fuel burned for over two hours.
"I-75 could be closed for quite a while" in both directions between Square Lake and Rochester roads, a Michigan State Police tweet says, "as it may have buckled from the heat of the fire."
Dramatic dashboard video from another vehicle shows the truck drift from the northbound center lane into the median barrier, flip onto its side and burst immediately into huge flames:
At 1:15 pm, a fuel tanker truck struck the center median wall of northbound I-75 near Big Beaver Rd. Troy Fire Dept fought the tanker fire for several hours. I-75 remains closed in both directions as MDOT engineers investigate the fire damage. ➡️https://t.co/435MeX98TW pic.twitter.com/HG0mk2SOC8
— Troy Police Department (@TroyMI_Police) July 12, 2021
Here's a view from a passing vehicle shortly after the crash:
(Photo: Fox 2 video)
The 46-year-old driver, who's from Saint Clair, jumped from the tanker cab in time to avoid more than minor injuries treated at Detroit Medical Center, says a release from that agency.
Three stations from Troy Fire Department responded to the scene. Troy firefighters deployed hand lines to contain the fire and used foam to completely extinguish it. ... The tanker truck was on fire for over two hours and Troy Fire crews remained on scene for several more hours for cleanup. ...
Both northbound and southbound I-75 will remain closed for some time as Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) engineers investigate the fire damage along the freeway concrete. Michigan Department of Transportation has since closed southbound I-75 at Square Lake Road.
The Woodward Avenue detour is sure to "back up like it’s Dream Cruise Saturday," a state police tweet notes. "It would be best if you avoided that area completely and find a north/south roadway a bit farther away."
