GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — The truck driver involved in the crash that led to a fiery tanker wreck on US-131 earlier this month has now been cited, with Grand Rapids officials saying the driver of the flatbed truck was driving too fast for conditions.
The citation stems from the April 4 crash near Exit 86A by the I-196 interchange. Officials said the driver of the flatbed truck — not the tanker driver — was cited after the incident, which shut down both northbound and southbound lanes of US-131 for hours.
Citation Issued to Flatbed Driver
According to city officials, the flatbed truck driver was cited for driving too fast for conditions during rainy weather.
Authorities said the flatbed truck slammed into a concrete wall, setting off the chain of events that led to the tanker crash. The tanker, which was hauling gasoline, then swerved to avoid the flatbed and crashed, erupting into flames.
Grand Rapids Police said the investigation remains ongoing.
What Happened in the Crash
A witness, Tony Zaidel, said he was traveling behind the tanker in heavy rain when a flatbed semi hauling lumber and a forklift passed at a high speed. He said the flatbed then began fishtailing, turned sideways, and slammed into the west concrete wall.
According to Zaidel’s account, the tanker driver swerved left to avoid the flatbed truck and trailer after it hit the wall. The tanker then struck the east concrete wall and ignited.
Zaidel said the tanker exploded immediately after impact. He also said a forklift attached to the flatbed struck the rear of his van after the flatbed rebounded across lanes and jackknifed.
Tanker Driver Escaped, Minor Injuries Reported
The tanker driver was able to get out of the truck after the crash. Zaidel said he helped the driver, identified to him as “Pedro,” into his van and moved him about 100 yards away from the scene.
According to Zaidel, the driver had a slight burn on the side of his face, along with injuries to his head and back. Fire officials later said both truck drivers got out of their vehicles, and MDOT said no severe injuries were reported.
Zaidel said the tanker was hauling fuel from Kentucky to a gas station in Wayland. He also said he later contacted the driver’s employer and was told the tanker driver was an experienced and highly regarded operator.
Emergency Response and Highway Damage
Grand Rapids fire crews said they were dispatched at 8:05 a.m. and arrived by 8:10 a.m. Officials said they faced early challenges securing a water supply but established one using field-expedient methods. Weather conditions created additional difficulties after the tanker was compromised.
Firefighters said standard hazardous materials procedures were followed, with crews approaching from the upwind, uphill, or upstream side. Grand Rapids Police, Michigan State Police, fire crews, and the Michigan Department of Transportation shut down both directions of US-131 to give emergency responders room to work.
Officials said the fire took more than two hours to extinguish. Crews then spent several more hours clearing the roadway and transferring remaining fuel from the tanker into a recovery vehicle. The highway remained closed for nearly 12 hours.
MDOT said no damage was found on the bridge, but the barrier wall and retaining wall were damaged.
Scene and Follow-Up
Zaidel said he called 911 multiple times while trying to report the crash and later to request help for damage to his van. He said he remained at the scene for about two hours and that the tanker driver stayed with him for about 40 minutes before firefighters arrived and moved him to an ambulance.
As of the latest update, portions of US-131 had still been affected by lane closures, including northbound and southbound traffic and the ramp from westbound I-196 to southbound US-131. Officials had not provided a timeline for full reopening.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
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