Texas Tank Truck Erupts Into Flames

In Nolanville, Texas, one person died after a four-vehicle collision involving a tanker truck that erupted in flames on I-14 West. James Stafford, a Bell County Public Information Officer, said the accident on April 24, 2023 began when a Pontiac made contact with an 18-wheeler by the Paddy Hamilton Road exit. Very shortly afterwards, a pickup truck driver had pulled over and stopped to assist. But that is when an 18-wheeler hauling 8,500 gallons of fuel crashed into all of these vehicles. The tanker truck caught up in flames and the smoke could be seen from miles away. Tragically, the driver of the tanker had lost their life. The others involved sustained minor injuries. 

I-14 West was closed between Simmons Road and Paddy Hamilton Road for most of the day on Monday. Emergency responders from Central Bell County Fire and Rescue, Ford Hood, Killeen, Belton, and the Texas Department of Transportation rushed to respond at the scene. The road may need to be repaved due to how hot the fire was from the tanker catching fire. The incident occurred at around 6 a.m., and the fire was extinguished a few hours later at approximately 9:30 a.m. 

When a Texas truck accident happens, there can be loss of life. Tanker trucks and semi trucks in particular may be hauling thousands of pounds of material that could become hazardous in the event of a collision. There are so many potential contributing factors for why these incidents occur, such as: 

• Truck driver fatigue
• Reckless driving
• Falling asleep behind the wheel
• Distracted driving
• Lack of training or experience
• Exhaustion from prolonged driving hours
• Unbalanced or overloaded cargo

At Truck Law, we are a network of attorneys who have represented countless cases involving truck accident victims. We understand the disaster that can unfold when commercial truck accidents happen. Anyone who has been injured is encouraged to contact our team immediately for assistance. Chances are, you have sustained serious injury that requires some degree of medical attention. Additionally, your injuries could follow you into the future if they are severe and you are unable to return to work. Many victims need compensation to cover their medical bills, property damage, and other forms of financial loss. That is where our assistance can be useful, since we are aware of the gravity of truck accidents and how people tend to suffer. That is why we strongly advise getting a consultation as soon as possible after a truck accident, so at least you are informed about your options. 

Depending on the factors of the accident, which can be uncovered after performing an investigation, you may file a claim with an insurance company or sue the trucking company directly. It is possible that multiple parties share liability in what happened, but the only way to find that out is by hiring a reputable legal team who knows what they are doing. For more information, please contact our law firm as soon as you can.