29 Dec 08 Gasoline Truck Driver Dies in Fiery Crash Near Wilsonville

From Salem-News.com:

(WILSONVILLE, Ore.) - Police responded to an explosion near Interstate 5 in the south Wilsonville area early this morning at 2:45 AM, involving a fuel laden semi truck. They say the driver, 56-year old William Neil Adams of Scappoose, Oregon, died in the crash and ensuing fire.

Fire personnel from Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue responding to the scene found a commercial tanker truck and trailer fully engulfed in flames, about 70 feet west of the southbound lanes near trees.

A TVF&R spokesperson says crews pulled back from the blazing truck and fuel and let it burn until it was safe to approach and extinguish it. Some trees in the area reportedly caught fire.

Oregon State Police, the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office and ODOT personnel responded and closed freeway traffic in both directions with a detour established for approximately 5 1/2 hours.

For all those people who were whining and complaining about the gas shortages in the Portland area, this should be a bit of a wake up call.

I was stranded at a Gas station in Beaverton, Oregon on Christmas Eve when the starter in my truck went out. The gas station had run out of regular fuel because the gas truck wasn't able to make it in the snow. I overheard quite a few complaints, and in the following days I heard more and more from people upset that many fuel tanker drivers wouldn't drive in the weather we've been having.

This incident should be a reminder of exactly why those companies were being cautious. Driving any vehicle in the ice and snow is quite risky, but one full of gasoline is especially dangerous. While we don't yet know for sure the ice on the road was the cause of this accident, it's pretty likely, and it's a reminder to those who complained about the lack of deliveries: quit your whining. This rough Oregon storm was quite unexpected, and we can learn to live without a few things for a while, it's better we keep people safe than try to truck fuel on roads covered with snow.

Just my thoughts. It's a tragic accident, and this is the first thing that came to mind.