Fiery tanker crash downs Mich. overpass

HAZEL PARK, Mich., July 16 (UPI) -- At least one tanker truck burst into flames after crashing on Interstate 75 near Detroit Wednesday, causing a portion of an overpass to collapse, police said.

The accident occurred about 8:30 p.m. at the Nine Mile overpass in Hazel Park about 10 miles north of downtown Detroit, The Detroit News reported. It wasn't known what the truck was carrying.

The fire sent a huge cloud of black smoke into the sky and blocked traffic in both directions. But no injuries had been reported initially, Hazel Park police told the News.

WXYZ-TV, Detroit, reported witnesses said the top of the tanker hit the overpass bridge and that a Michigan State Police officer said two or three trucks were involved. However, State Police Lt. Shannon Sims told the News it wasn't known what caused the crash.

"I just saw a huge ball of flame go up when I was at the red light, just went up in flame," witness Mary Greib told CNN. "I took off running."

Vince Brennan watched the scene from the eighth floor of a nearby building.

"I heard a whole bunch of boom, boom, boom," he said. "The flames had to be 30, 40 feet in the air."