Witnesses Pull Man from Blazing Tanker in Calif.
Source The Record, Stockton, Calif.
Sept. 01--Witnesses pulled a man from a burning truck after his fuel tanker erupted in flames following a three-car collision about 1:30 p.m. Saturday on East Mariposa Road in an unincorporated part of San Joaquin County, authorities said.
According to the California Highway Patrol, Jaime Portillo, 29, of Galt was traveling west on East Mariposa Road, just east of Dodds Road, when he made an unsafe turning movement into an eastbound lane. Portillo collided with the left side of the tanker truck, which was driven by an unidentified 43-year-old Modesto man.
The collision caused Portillo to collide with another vehicle driven by David Costa, 58, of Ripon and ruptured fuel tanks carrying about 8,000 gallons of fuel, authorities said. The tanker continued east spilling burning fuel until coming to rest on the south shoulder of East Mariposa Road. Witnesses pulled the truck driver from the burning vehicle, but he suffered major injuries, the CHP said.
Portillo had minor injuries while Costa was uninjured, authorities said. The investigation is ongoing, but alcohol or drugs were not believed to be a factor and no arrests have been made, authorities said.
Copyright 2013 - The Record, Stockton, Calif.
