Fuel tanker explosion blocks Highway 87

A fuel tanker carrying 10,500 gallons of diesel fuel was heading northbound on U.S. Highway 87 out of Great Falls when a mechanical failure caused the pup trailer to flip over and spark an inferno that would spread and incinerate the entire 18-wheeler.

Sgt. Joe Kinsey of the Montana Highway Patrol said the driver of the vehicle escaped without injury, but the fire spread to the large tanker, which caused the entire rig to burn completely and blocked traffic on the main north-south route to Great Falls.

Kinsey said the call reporting the fire at Mile Marker 9 was Saturday at 6:45 p.m. The highway was blocked until 3:55 a.m. Sunday and the flames caused significant damage to the road.

"It'll need some patchwork," he said.

Emergency crews including from Disaster and Emergency Services, Montana Highway Patrol, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and local fire crews worked together to put out the fire, divert traffic and clean up the environmental damage, he added.

Kinsey said there are no details on the mechanical failure that caused the pup trailer to flip.