At least two individuals are feared dead following a horrific crash in a tunnel that resulted in an explosion. The “ugly” incident involved multiple vehicles, including a tractor, colliding in a tunnel in Green River, Wyoming.
A tractor trailer carrying transformers was part of the collision, leading to a severe explosion, it is believed. Authorities have warned that the tunnel could collapse at any moment.
Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Jason Mower told Cowboy State Daily: “We are containing the scene now because there’s nothing else we can do, given the conditions inside the tunnel. Both the nature of the fire and now the structural integrity inside the tunnel itself.”
It is thought that two people have died and at least seven have been rushed to hospital. However, rescue operations for any other potential victims are proving challenging due to the hazardous conditions.
Fire crews initially had difficulty reaching the scene, located on the westbound of Interstate 80, a main rural road in the landlocked western US state. Mr Mower further commented: “Basically, we treat it as a giant crime scene.”
Images reveal thick black smoke pouring out of the narrow tunnel which carries the Interstate 80 under mountainous terrain near Green River city.
Lorries seem to have been involved in the crash, reports the Mirror, which is believed to have occurred around midday local time (7pm UK).
State Senator John Kolb has warned that the tunnel is on the brink of collapse, stating: “It’s going to be pretty devastating for the area, most importantly for those folks that lost their lives.”
David Brewer, from Kemmerer, Wyoming, and his daughter Alyssa were eyewitnesses to the catastrophe. David recounted: “We heard and felt the huge explosions. They went on for 30 to 45 minutes.”
Alyssa described the event as “It was very, very scary.”
Jennifer Lynn Carr, observing from her home in Green River, two miles from the main road leading into Utah, reported seeing a smoke plume. Both lanes are affected, though the impact happened on the westbound side for Salt Lake City, Utah.
She said: “My daughter and I heard multiple booms that sounded like cars running into each other. She was terrified and panicked, and I told her it would be OK. But it was pretty scary.”
Meanwhile, local resident Stan Blake commented on the severity of the incident: “Sure, there have been crashes in the tunnels before, but not like this. I’ve never seen black smoke billowing out of both ends of the tunnel. This is really, really bad. It’s ugly.”
The rescue operation in Wyoming continues and is likely to take several hours. It follows a pile-up in Oregon, which saw more than 100 vehicles collide in snow on the I-84 westbound.