Tanker truck explosion closes I-75 south of Detroit: UPDATE

At approximately 8:15 a.m., a tanker truck driving northbound on I-75 lost control at Dearborn Ave. The tank portion of the truck went over the freeway, plunging 30-40 ft. to the ground below and exploding on impact.

The cab of the truck became lodged on the freeway barrier which prevented it from toppling over the edge. The cab continued 200 yards on I-75 North before catching fire, killing the driver. The identity of the driver has not been released pending notification of the family.

Both northbound and southbound lanes of I-75 were closed through the morning. The span of I-75 Northbound, which caught on fire, will remain closed until investigators call it safe to drive on.

When the tank exploded, it shot fire in all directions causing several additional fires to a convenience store, a residential home and a playground.

It is not known at his time why the driver lost control of the vehicle.

The tank was carrying a full tank of a petroleum-based product.Source

Prime Inc. acquires trucking operations of TRL

Prime Inc. has acquired the trucking operations of Pittston, Pa.-based Transcontinental Refrigerated Lines. The TRL freight network will operate as a division of Prime Inc. The acquisition, which included several TRL assets, was finalized in December. TRL’s Pittston facility will function as Prime’s East Coast customer service center.

Prime adds the Pennsylvania location to its locations in California, Colorado, Florida, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oregon and Utah.

Stephen P. Hrobuchak Jr. and his father founded TRL Trucking in 1975 as a family-owned trucking company, starting with two trucks. TRL experienced rapid growth as a result in their focus on service and with its customer base.

“We have experienced decreasing profitability these last few years,” said Hrobuchak Jr., former president and CEO of TRL. Faced with escalating operating costs, Hrobuchak said “the best solution for the company and [his] associates was to seek out Prime.”

Prime says it will retain key personnel from TRL. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Source

Tractor-trailer accident closes portion of Route 12

A portion of southbound Route 12 near Route 8 was closed Wednesday after the wind blew over a tractor-trailer full of logs, police said. The state Department of Environmental Conservation was notified of the accident around 9 a.m., but dispatchers said they were unaware of any injuries.

The roadway was closed for a while. Source