Tanker Explodes After Flipping Over, Destroys Multiple Buildings In Rockville Centre

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY - A tanker truck full of gasoline crashed and exploded early Wednesday morning, destroying multiple buildings on Merrick Road in Rockville Centre, New York.

Numerous fire departments from across Nassau County responded to the intersection of Merrick Road and S Centre Avenue in Rockville Centre after a tanker truck full of approximately 9,000 gallons of gasoline crashed, exploded and caught on fire. Witnesses say the explosion happened just after 1:10AM, many of which were woken up by the blast that rocked their homes.

When emergency services first arrived on scene, there was fire lining the streets and numerous buildings actively on fire. At one point, flames were shooting from the sewer lines due to the gasoline spill from the overturned truck.

“You remember that scene from War of the Worlds where Tom Cruise emerges from the basement after the plane crashed into the neighborhood? It looked exactly like that.” an eyewitness mentioned to Priority News Network after being one of the first people to witness the incident.

Credit: Frank Lewis / Priority News Network

While on scene and fighting the fire, multiple other explosions continued. At one point, the whole front side of the building collapsed as firefighters were working to battle the inferno. The primary building affected by the fire was an abandoned furniture store, with intense flames damaging a discount liquor store across the street, feet from where the truck came to a stop.

The driver of the truck was taken to South Nassau Hospital and later released after receiving only minor injuries. He is being questioned by police about the events that led up to the crash.

Three firefighters were evaluated at the scene for minor injuries, two of which were transported to the hospital.

The cause of the crash is still being actively investigated. The area remains closed while firefighters secure the area.