October 6, 2002 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (SH2002-36) FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION R. Steve Huffman Public Information Officer (251) 208-5806/Fax: (251) 208-5813 E-Mail: huffman@cityofmobile.org MOBILE FIREFIGHTERS RESPOND TO OVERTURNED TANKER At approximately 10:08 p.m. Sunday night, October 6, 2002 Mobile Fire-Rescue Department was called to respond to a tanker truck involved in a crash and overturned at Highway 90 and Plantation Road in Theodore. The tanker contained approximately 6 thousand gallons of Molten Sulfur and had spilled onto the roadway. Firefighters arrived on the scene and discovered the tractor portion of the tanker on fire. An unknown motorist prior to firefighters arrival had already pulled the driver of the truck, Anthony Smith, from the wreckage. Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire and built dikes to contain the spilled contents. Mobile Firemedics immediately called for the University of South Alabama Medical Center's Southflite helicopter to come transport the patient to USAMC. Smith received 2nd and 3rd degree burns over 90% of his body and was in critical condition when he was transported from the scene. The motorist who assisted Smith received burns to the hands and feet and was transported to a local hospital by Mobile Firemedics. It appears that when the trucker overturned it ruptured the tanker spilling the molten sulfur into the cab of the truck onto the driver. Mobile Police and Alabama State Troopers, who are investigating the accident, kept all four lanes of Highway 90 blocked until the west bounds lanes were cleared between 11:00 and 11:30 p.m. The eastbound lanes remained closed until a wrecker could remove the remains of the truck and tanker and the clean up contractor could clean up the spill. All or portions of the eastbound lanes were expected to be closed for several hours. Engines 7, 19, 15, truck 10, rescue 7, 24, haz-mat 15, Acting District 2 Chief Captain Mark Stewart and District Chief Bill Hunter responded to the call. Theodore Volunteer Fire Department also responded to the call. ###