2-23-15 – Location – Camden County, New Jersey – Incident – Gas Truck Fire On Freeway

A gasoline tanker exploded on a New Jersey highway Monday, and its driver was able to escape before the rig burst into flames, police said.

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The big rig, carrying 8,900 gallons of gas, flipped on an off-ramp in Pennsauken around 11 a.m., CBS Philly reported.

It’s not clear what caused the Camden County accident, but no other vehicles were involved. The driver escaped, but police did not say if he suffered any injuries.

First responders evacuated nearby homes as the roaring flames sent black smoke billowing over the area.

“I heard a big bang and I felt it. I looked over and saw the flames shoot straight up. It was pretty crazy. I didn’t see the truckā€¦ all I saw was flames,” said Bob Ried, who was driving near the tanker when it exploded. “It felt like a bomb went off.”

KYWA gasoline tanker carrying 8,900 gallons of gas exploded on a Camden County, N.J. road Monday.

It took firefighters more than an hour to gain control of the blaze, which was mostly put out by 12:30 p.m., 6 ABC reported.