Mother, son recall driving on bridge as tanker fire raged

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - A mother and son found themselves in the middle of the interstate tanker explosion Thursday morning. Beth Shreffler and Josh Wilson drove over the bridge as flames from the crash engulfed them.

"We just heard a loud boom. We felt a shake, heard a bunch of debris hit the car and were surrounded by flames. (It was) indescribable. You ever been baking a pizza and open the oven and feel that heat? It was like that times 10 for about 10 seconds," said Wilson.

Beth Shreffler was actually driving the car.

"The whole car just went up in flames. All I saw was flames. I hit the gas pedal and went and prayed that I made it through and we did," said Shreffler.

Flames burned large portions of their car, including the license plate.

No one in the car was hurt.

(Read more related stories to the Tanker Explosion)

Those who work in office buildings along 465 had a direct view of the fire and efforts by firefighters and police.

Crystal Kyle works at the Indiana Orthopedic Center, northeast of the 465 bridge where the accident occurred. She and co-workers said Thursday was not your usual day at the office.

"We just started hearing this thunder noise," Kyle said.

She works on the second floor of the building and had a direct view of the events as they unfolded.

"The building started shaking and the windows were rattling," Kyle recalled.

She said the shaking continued for at least five seconds, leading her to believe she was in the middle of an earthquake. She said a bright orange glow pierced through the closed blinds.

"I was - I couldn't speak," said Kyle.

A co-worker opened the blinds and discovered monstrous flames licking either side of the 465 bridge. They couldn't see the overturned tanker and didn't know the source of the flames. Kyle feared an act of terrorism or a downed plane.

Workers gathered around windows watching firefighters battle the flames. Kyle is one of many 24-Hour News 8 viewers who snapped a picture on her cell phone and sent it to us.

Kyle feared the worst, praying for those she believed had likely died in the fire. She and co-workers were surprised and relieved to learn that no one had died in the accident. Two were injured, and emergency responders believe neither suffered life-threatening injuries.

"It's a miracle," said Indiana Orthopedic Center co-worker Heather Gray.

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