Tanker truck carrying butane explodes at Glenrock ,Wyo.

Passing motorists helped the driver out of the truck immediately after the I-25 crash. Highway Patrol troopers were able to evacuate all motorists away from the truck before the rear tanker exploded.

The Associated Press

11/26/2008

GLENROCK, Wyo. — A tanker truck carrying more than 12,500 gallons of butane crashed on Interstate 25 and erupted in a fiery explosion Tuesday that launched truck wreckage flying a half-mile, the Wyoming Highway Patrol said.

Sgt. Stephen Townsend said the truck was pulling a full-size tanker and a pup tanker when it was involved in a single-vehicle rollover at about noon. There were no injuries in the wreck or the ensuing fire and explosion, authorities said.

Passing motorists helped the driver out of the truck immediately after the crash. Highway Patrol troopers were able to evacuate all motorists away from the truck before the rear tanker exploded, Townsend said.

The explosion sent a portion of the rear tanker flying a half-mile, Townsend said. He said the debris landed in a rural area and didn’t cause any damage.

Firefighters let the truck and tanker burn for hours in an effort to burn off the remaining butane.

Interstate 25 was closed in both directions all of Tuesday afternoon before being reopened Tuesday night.

Glenrock is about 25 miles east of Casper.

Jerry Breeden of The Trucker staff can be reached for comment at jerrybreeden@thetrucker.com.