VAN, TEXAS — A diesel tanker carrying approximately 7,000 gallons of fuel overturned on Highway 64 in Van Zandt County on Sunday after a collision involving a pickup truck and another vehicle, prompting an extensive emergency response and closing the highway for several hours.
According to the Van Fire Department, the crash occurred approximately a quarter mile west of FM 314. The westbound tanker struck a pickup near the exit of a convenience store before overturning and becoming involved in a second collision with an eastbound vehicle. The tanker came to rest partially in the roadway and partially in a ditch.
One person became trapped following the crash and was freed with assistance from first responders and bystanders. One patient was airlifted to a hospital in serious condition, while two others were treated and released at the scene.
The damaged tanker was leaking fuel from multiple compartments, creating an additional hazard for motorists and emergency crews. Responders established a helicopter landing zone and deployed foam as a precaution while hazardous-materials crews worked to contain the spill.
A hazmat team later began transferring the remaining fuel from the tanker so the vehicle could be safely uprighted and removed. Highway 64 was closed in both directions during the emergency response, fuel cleanup, and recovery operation.
Eyewitnesses described the crash as a frightening scene. One witness said they saw the incident from a distance and immediately called 911. Another motorist said they narrowly avoided becoming involved in the collision.
“To think I missed this by about a foot,” the motorist wrote. “Definitely lucky I was able to swerve around it. This was scary to watch.”
The incident serves as a reminder of how quickly conditions can change on busy roadways and the importance of remaining alert around large commercial vehicles and emergency scenes.
Eyewitness accounts were included as additional context to the publicly reported crash.
