A fiery pile converted a quiet Friday morning into a nightmare when a hell raged in an Interstate 80 tunnel in southwestern Wyoming who claimed at least two lives and were seriously injured, forcing a total socket from the highway.
The crash, a horrible chain reaction with multiple semi-trucks and vehicles, steered thick black smoke wavy in the air from both ends of the quarter-of-mile tunnel, visible to Mile over Green River.
Thick feathers of black smoke and exploding tires made it difficult to come in for rescuers, said Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper Nicholas Warren.
The crash in the western tube of the Twin Tunnel late on Friday morning closed the highway in both directions, with still no estimate against the late afternoon when it would reopen.
First Responders arrived in a scene of destruction and even hours later at 3 p.m. still could not enter the tunnel because the fire was too intense to approach the Sheriff office.
Anyone who is trapped in the tunnel would be forced to escape on foot through the smoke and darkness.
Rescuers tried desperate victims, but the structure of the tunnel – now compromised by falling concrete and burning heat – turned into a deadly fall.
Crews arrived at both ends and went as far as they could, but a combination of vehicle obstructions, fire brigade and explosions prevented them from going further and eventually forced them to evacuate.
A fiery stack of accumulation on an interstate 80 tunnel in southwestern Wyoming killed at least two people, was seriously injured and stopped the highway
The crash included an unknown number of trucks and other vehicles inside and outside the tunnel at Green River
For those in the tunnel, the only option was a desperate escape on foot due to blinding smoke and darkness.
With visibility near zero and the sky thick with toxic fumes, survivors stumbled in the direction of a glimmer of light, hoping to make it alive.
It seems that a tractor trailer was loaded with transformers involved in the tunnel crash and the transformers exploded according to Cowboy State Daily.
“We now contain the scene because we can't do anything else, given the conditions in the tunnel,” said Sweetwater County's Office spokesperson Jason Mower. “Both the nature of the fire and now the structural integrity in the tunnel itself.”
For a long time inhabitants of Green River, a city with just over 11,500 people, described the scene as something from a disaster film.
“We heard and felt the huge explosions,” said Alyssa Brewer. 'They went on for 30-45 minutes.
“They had EMTs and sheriffs who entered hospital bags because they could not endure the ambulance,” Alyssa Daily told Cowboy State. “It was very, very scary. We were only 200 meters from the tunnel when it happened. '
Another resident of the nearby heard a huge tree when the explosion took place in the tunnel.
“My daughter and I heard several booms that sounded like cars that met,” said Jennifer Lynn Carr by Green River. “She was terrified and in a panic and I told her it would be good. But it was pretty scary. '
Thick black smoke and exploding tires made it difficult to come in for rescuers
First -responders could not enter the tunnel on Friday, a few hours after the first crash, because the fire was too intense to approach the Sheriff office, said
The quarter Mijltunnel goes under Castle Rock, a sandstone formation on Green River, the Sweetwater County seat of 11,500 people
Another local, Stan Blake, also knew it was bad when he saw smoke waving in the air.
“Of course, there have been crashes in the tunnels, but not so,” said Blake.
'I have never seen black smoke from both ends of the tunnel waves. This is really very bad. It's ugly. '
Highway traffic was diverted by Green River.
From Friday afternoon, emergency teams could still not enter the tunnel, making it impossible to know how many vehicles and lives were lost in the wreck.
A statement from nearby Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County insisted on people not to visit unless they had an emergency or family in the wreck 'Mass casualty'.
“My heart is broken for the families and loved ones of the victims of this terrible crash,” said Wydot director Darin Westby in a statement.
“My thoughts and prayers go to all who are involved. Wydot and WHP stay on a scene to help local emergency services and offer extra support and traffic control. '
The Kwart-Mijl tunnel goes under Castle Rock, a sandstone formation that stands over Green River, the Sweetwater County seat of 11,500 people.
The Wyoming Department of Transportation said on social media that geologists and bridge engineers with his team 'would assess the tunnel infrastructure'.
“We want to express our sincere appreciation for first responds in Sweetwater County for their support and help in responding to this tragic crash,” said Colonel Karl Germain in Wyoming Highway Patrol Lt. Karl Germain in a statement.
“Motorists are reminded to obey posted speed limits through the detour, and delays are probably.”
