Driver Killed When Tanker Truck Overturns, Catches Fire On NJ Turnpike In Kearny

KEARNY, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A tanker truck overturned on the right shoulder of the New Jersey Turnpike Wednesday afternoon, causing a massive fire and killing the driver, state police said.

As CBS2's Lou Young reported, the tanker truck flipped around 3:20 p.m. on the northbound lanes of the Turnpike just south of Exit 15W, between Interstate 280 and Route 3 in Kearny.

A series of mattresses and box springs had fallen from a van, causing the accident that led to the tanker truck overturning and catching fire, Young reported. A Honda CR-V was also apparently involved in the accident.

The main tank appeared to be completely ruptured, and the contents were burning off. The tankers haul about 3,000 gallons of fuel when full.

The flames were so intense that the driver's body was not recovered for hours. Heat and fire poured from every part of the ruptured tanker on its side, where it flipped over the guardrail beyond the northbound shoulder.

Smoke was visible for miles.

The fire raged for about an hour and 20 minutes, sending billowing clouds of black smoke into the sky that could be seen as far away as New York City.

A passing motorist shot cellphone video at the scene.

"As we pulled up, I opened the sunroof and put my hand out to take that video, and that heat -- it was like putting your hands in an oven," the motorist said in a telephone interview, "and I'm three and a half lanes away from the other side of the barrier and it was extremely hot even for that distance."

The fire went on burning even as firefighters battled it, the motorist said.

"I drove past it and there were a lot of firetrucks and a lot of state police," the driver said. "They had water on it for what seemed like 15 minutes, and the fire still didn't go down."

Another motorist shot dashcam video showing the tanker flipping over and bursting into flames.

Motorists using the turnpike were caught in a maze of blocked ramps, diverted traffic, and closed lanes.

"I drive this route all the time, and this is the worst I've even seen it," said Turnpike motorist Tom Arrudo.

Firefighting equipment from Newark Liberty International Airport finally poured foam on the truck, killing the flames and revealing a charred metal skeleton where the truck had been.

The northbound side on the western spur of the Turnpike was completely closed following the crash.

Within an hour of when the fire was put out, a crane at the scene began moving the burned husk. State police said they had no firm estimate as to when the northbound lanes of the Turnpike's western spur would be reopened.

The identity of the driver has not yet been released.