[Mappaindy]

07-08-2012 Hubei | CNS TV News



August 5, 2012 at about 5:30 am, a 25 tons gasoline tanker skidded and roll off a cliff at Enshi Tujia
and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in Hubei trapping four persons in the driver's compartment. The tanker
was ferrying 23 tons of gasoline at the time of accident.

A driver of the car behind the tanker witnessed the accident and immediately notified the highway patrol to
dispatch rescue staff.

Officers at the Hefeng fire squadron received the alert and immediately mobilized and rushed a rescue team
to the scene.

Fire fighters and rescue staff managed to extricate three of the four persons trapped with minor injuries. After
a brief on site examination, they were rushed to local hospital nearby.

However, the fourth person in the compartment was crushed by the crash and declared death at the scene.
Rescuers were not immediately able to extricate his body due to the high risk of fire from the leaking gasoline.

Fire fighters decided to transfer the balance gasoline in the stricken tanker to a relief tanker prior to hoisting
the stricken tanker back onto the road. This is to minimize the risk of fire and hazards to the rescuers.

Investigation as to the cause of the accident is in progress.