ORANGEBURG COUNTY, S.C. — One person is dead following a massive tanker truck fire on an overpass over Interstate 95 in Orangeburg County.
The fire took place at the Highway 301 overpass near the town of Santee. Highway 301 was blocked in both directions.
Lance Corporal Matt Southern with the South Carolina Highway Patrol said the accident happened just before 2:30 p.m. on Highway 301 near Interstate 95.
L. Cpl. Southern said the tractor trailer was traveling north on Highway 301 when a car getting off Interstate 95 collided with the tractor trailer. The tractor trailer overturned and burst into flames.
Highway Patrol said the driver of the tractor trailer died at the scene. It was unknown if the driver was wearing a seat belt. The two occupants in the car were wearing seat belts and did not suffer any injuries.
Video taken from the scene shows flames shooting high up into the air.
Two men also sent to News19 a view of their efforts to rescue two people in a car that that collided with the fuel truck. Justin Berry was filming the fire when he noticed two people were still inside a white sedan not far from the scene. He along with Robert Branham, went to the car and got the two people to safety.
The collision remains under investigation by the South Carolina Highway Patrol and the Highway Patrol's Multi-disciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT). According to Highway Patrol's website, MAIT investigates complicated vehicle crashes, using technology and analysis to reconstruct the scene.