Tulsa Oklahoma semi truck rollover due to driver speeding

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said the driver of the semi was going too fast around a curve near the intersection of the two interstate highways. Because he was speeding, the driver then lost control of the big rig, causing the truck to slide onto the snow, hitting a guardrail, rolling on its side, which then caused the big rig to leak diesel fuel onto the highway.

The OHP reports that the driver was not hurt.

Sapulpa Fire crews were called in to clean up the diesel fuel that leaked onto the interstate.

The tractor trailer truck was pushed off the highway so the road could be re-opened to traffic.

Speeding is one of the most common causes of semi truck accidents because the truck driver is rushing to stay on time, disregarding safety in order to make a deadline, says Nationwide truck accident attorneys, Gordon & Elias.

If you need information about truck accident law pertaining to Tulsa, Oklahoma, talk to a Tulsa truck accident attorney who is qualified to answer your questions. Contact Steve Gordon toll free at 800-773-6770 24/7.

At TruckAccidents360.com, you can find an Oklahoma truck accident lawyer who specializes in representing victims involved in tractor trailer, big rig truck injury accidents.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol reports that Mary Dye, 51, of Sapulpa, Oklahoma was driving eastbound on I-44 with the victim’s semi in front of her, when she tried to pass the truck just before the 33rd W. Avenue bridge, losing control of her car and hitting the outer guardrail. Dye’s car bounced off the guardrail, hitting the semi.

Semi truck explodes into flames after car veers off guard rail hitting the18 wheeler truck

The impact caused the semi to veer just enough left to hit the metal guardrail and concrete bridge wall. Its fuel tanks ruptured as it overturned and fell onto 33rd West Avenue.

Gornwiga Nation, who lives near I-44 and 33rd W. Avenue in west Tulsa, was able to catch the fiery accident on tape.

Watch video below:

“You can see from the video my hand was shaking,” said Nation.

Her sister, Palpy Hudson, heard it all happen.

“We heard a loud brake noise that we hear all the time on the highway,” said Hudson. “It was kind of like that but it was followed by the big noise, boom.”

“We were hoping to help somebody, but the fire, it was just scary,” said Hudson. “It was like the most scariest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”

Just minutes earlier, a car lost control on I-44 eastbound, hit the guardrail, then hit the semi truck causing the truck driver to lose control.

“The semi went to the far left, striking the guardrail, then the bridge wall and continuing down in between the two bridges onto 33rd W. Avenue,” said Martin Stewart with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.

That’s when the semi went up in flames. Both the driver and the passenger of the semi died at the scene.

The driver of the vehicle that hit the semi made it out okay, but her car caught fire too.

“Holy smoke it’s about the worse one I’ve ever seen,” said bystander Pat Bedard. “I’m just glad nobody was under there, you know.”

Two people inside the semi have been confirmed dead. Dye was transported to a local hospital, but released.  She was able to escape despite her vehicle catching fire as well.

No one else was injured by the explosion or flying debris.

The west bound side of Interstate 44 was reopened at 11am after being closed for more than three hours. The other side was opened a short time later, and was closed for more than four hours.

All four lanes of I-44 between I-244 and US-75 are shut down until further notice. ODOT officials say the westbound lanes should open up soon, but the scene will not be cleared until later this afternoon.

Marla Carter of KJRH contributed to this story.

Related searches:
Tulsa truck accident lawyer
Oklahoma truck accident attorney
Truck accident injury lawyer