Tanker explosion closes parts of I-465 & I-69

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Emergency crews are still on the scene of a propane tanker explosion that occurred at the I-69 and I-465 interchange Thursday morning.

Commuters are encouraged to find an alternate route home on the northeast side. For those that have to travel in that area, please be aware that traffic is being diverted in the area.

Traffic northbound on I-465 will be restricted to that traffic which is going to continue north bound on I-69. I-465 westbound from I-69 will be closed.

Also, traffic eastbound on I-465 on the north side will be rerouted onto U.S. 31. There will be no east bound traffic allowed east of Allisonville Road on I-465. Traffic south bound on I-69 will be allowed to travel west bound onto I-465 or south bound on Binford Blvd.

According to INDOT officials motorists should expect the same traffic pattern during Friday morning’s commute as well as Friday evening.

(If you took pictures or video of the explosion scene please send them to newspics@wishtv.com)

Tanker explodes on I-465, 2 injured

 

Emergency officials told 24-Hour News 8 the huge explosion near I-69 to I-465 was like nothing they had ever seen before.

 

The huge plume of smoke from the explosion burned billboards and even the top of a Department of Transportation communications tower.

It was a fireball fed by as much as 1,000 pounds of liquid propane.

The propane trailer exploded under an I-465 overpass after it became separated from the truck pulling it.

Good Samaritans pulled 73-year-old Ronald Tobias of Syracuse, Indiana to safety. He was taken to Methodist Hospital with injuries that are not life threatening.

Lawrence Township Fire Marshal says a trailing motorist suffered more serious injuries, "And he did sustain some burns, 20% as I understand of second and third degree burns so he was taken to the Wishard burn unit.

INDOT concerned about bridge damage

INDOT is concerned that, since the tanker exploded under the I-465 bridge, it may have damaged it. Until INDOT structural engineers determine the bridge is structurally sound, it will remain closed.

INDOT is waiting on firefighters to drain the propane from the tanker before the inspection can begin.

The department said the bridge has steel beams holding it up and they need to make sure the heat from the explosion didn’t compromise those beams. How long the inspection lasts will depend on the severity of the damage.

Structural engineers will use a bucket truck to look at beams and the bridge as a whole. But before they even begin the inspection, they’ll have to remove all the soot.

The primary goal is to make sure the explosion didn’t severely weaken the bridge, the department said.

“The steel bridge actually holds up the weight of traffic. So we want to find out what kind of stress has been put on the steel of the bridge and determine what strength is still available in it to carry traffic,” said INDOT spokesman Will Wingfield.

INDOT said it’s also going to be inspecting the billboards and the communications tower that were charred in the explosion.

They need to be sure they won’t collapse onto traffic when the bridge is reopened.

 

Witnesses describe scene of explosion

People in nearby offices and apartment buildings from the explosion called the 24-Hour News 8 newsroom and asked if there had been an earthquake.

Linda Cantwell of Fishers said her car was a 100 feet behind the accident. "It was just a massive explosion," said Cantwell. "The fireball was enormous and the heat was unbelievable."

At a nearby apartment complex one resident, Dan Masters, said he suspected a military attack, "And I looked out the window and the sky was completely orange which was pretty spectacular for being broad daylight."

Sage Kopronica also near the scene said, "People near the explosion got out of their cars and ran from the scene."