The driver of a gasoline tanker which exploded and burst into flames following a collision with a tractor is fighting for his life after suffering burns to 95 per cent of his body. Andre Rodriquez, 41, of Preysal Village, Couva, is in critical condition at the Intensive Care Unit at the Arima Health Facility where he is being treated for third degree burns. He suffered the burns when the tanker he was driving exploded following an accident along the Churchill- Roosevelt Highway, near Maloney. Rodriquez, a private contractor with National Petroleum, was on his way to Matura to deliver gasoline to service stations in the tanker, owned by VKD Transport, when the accident occurred. Eyewitnesses told police a tractor, driven by Davindra Anil Matadin, was travelling east along the highway around 9 am when the tanker overtook the tractor.
The tractor, which was driven by Davindra Anil Matadin, remains on the side of the road after the incident. Photos: Dilip Singh
The back of the tanker hooked onto the tractor and dragged it several metres down the highway. A report said the tanker skidded, overturned, exploded and burst into flames. Thick black smoke and flames spewed from the tanker which was transporting approximately 7,500 litres of gasoline. Several Community-based Environment Protection and Enhancement Programme (Cepep) employees, who were working on the side of the highway, ran for their lives when they heard the explosion. Some of them turned around and rushed to assist Rodriquez when he stumbled out of the burning tanker on fire, dropped down on the grass and rolled in an attempt to douse the flames. Motorists also stopped to assist the critically injured man. The driver of the tractor suffered head injuries and was taken to the hospital by a Fire Services ambulance.
Fire appliances from the Arima and Tunapuna Fire Stations and Hazardous Materials Department from Chaguanas rushed to the scene and battled the gas-fueled blaze. However, the fire re-ignited two hours after it was extinguished and firefighters had to return to the scene. Police diverted the east-bound traffic from the Churchill Roosevelt Highway to Golden Grove Road. The fire, which reduced the tanker to a heap of charred and twisted metal, also scorched overhead electricity and telephone lines. Two NP employees on the scene refused to speak with the media as they took photographs of the accident. Acting Deputy Chief Fire Officer Nayar Rampersad said the firefighters were able to control the blaze by using foam.
Fire officers wash down the area where the explosion took place on the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway.
"The fire was extinguished without causing other injuries to the public," he said, adding that the police controlled the traffic near the explosion and prevented more people from being injured. Acting Divisional Fire Officer E Brown also visited the scene and acting Fire Officer Gopaul is continuing investigations. Fire Services officials warned that the foam used to put out the blaze could dry up and there was the possibility the fire might re-ignite. They appealed to the public to "be mindful that the area is blocked off." Up to late yesterday, west-bound traffic was being diverted to Mausica Road and east-bound traffic to Golden Grove Road. The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) said said several agencies were involved in restoring order in the aftermath of the fire. A Special Anti-Crime Unit of T&T (Sautt) helicopter provided aerial reconnaissance and personnel from the T&T Prison Service, who were first on the scene, assisted Rodriquez until an Emergency Health Service ambulance arrived to transport him to hospital.
