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MIDVALE, Utah, Jan. 18, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — Interstate 15 was closed in both directions after a semi-tanker filled with gasoline caught fire, then exploded in the southbound lanes near 7200 South Thursday night.
The southbound freeway is closed between 5300 South and 9000 South.
Initial reports from the scene indicate the driver stopped because he thought his brakes might have caught fire, and made it out of the tanker before the explosion.
All drivers are being advised to avoid the area, the Utah Department of Transportation said in a tweet at 7:20 p.m. Surface streets are also seeing considerable congestion.
Utah Highway Patrol spokesman Lt. Todd Royce said the tanker has 9,000 gallons of gas, and 1,000 gallons of diesel.
The northbound lanes reopened just after 10 p.m.
Royce added the southbound freeway will be shut down indefinitely as the freeway cools down and is assessed for damage.
Gephardt Daily has a crew on the scene and will update this story as information becomes available.
