Four people have been injured after a gasoline tanker truck lost control and crashed into a vacant building, leading to a massive fire on Long Island in New York.
The driver and three firefighters responding to the scene were injured in the crash and during the following blaze, which began early on Wednesday.
Black smoke could be seen coming from the Rockville Centre building after it had been entirely taken over by the blaze.
Fire Chief James Avondet said they got the call at about 1.10am on Wednesday, WNBC-TV reported.
The tanker truck, which was carrying 9,500 gallons of gasoline, crashed into a vacant La-Z-Boy showroom about 30 miles east of New York City. It also struck a liquor store, News12 reported.
“When I came here, there was fire everywhere, the streets, the tanker, the two buildings, and when I looked down Sunrise Highway, there was fire coming out of seven or eight manhole covers,” Chief Avondet said. “It’s one of the worst things I’ve seen in my 47-year career.”
The building subsequently collapsed and other businesses in the surrounding area lost power as firefighters battled the blaze.
“I seen the whole building go up, then second floor collapsed,” witness Brett Agostini told CBS New York. “Then they were trying to put it out, but the fire was just going. Then one thing led to another, now the building is gone.”
It was reported that the truck driver was taken to hospital. Chief Avondet said two of the three injured firefighters were also taken to hospital.
Nassau Traffic Management said on Twitter that traffic was closed in both directions and to expect delays in the area that could stretch into the morning rush hour. The cause of the crash was under investigation.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
