Butane Leak From Crashed Tanker Feeds Spectacular Fires
The Salt Lake City Tribune reported that a Flying J truck hauling butane gas exploded and burned Wednesday night about two and a half hours after it crashed into a van
The Salt Lake City Tribune reported that a Flying J truck hauling butane gas exploded and burned Wednesday night about two and a half hours after it crashed into a van.
According to the Associated Press, 1,500 people were evacuated after the initial accident on U.S. 89 in Kaysville, Davis County, Utah.
The driver of the butane truck, identified as Travis Mortensen, was southbound on U.S. Highway 89 when he reportedly discovered the brakes on his truck were not working. He ran a red light and hit a van turning left onto the highway from 200 North. Mortensen's truck, which was pulling two tanks of butane, veered off the side of the highway. There, the truck cab and the main butane tank rolled, while the smaller tank became detached. Together, the two tanks contained about 12,700 gallons of the highly flammable gas.
The accident caused a crack in the larger tank. Over the next two hours, firefighters saturated the tank and the crack with water. However, according to AP, heavier-than-air butane fumes flowed downhill and entered a home, where they were ignited, possibly by a pilot light, a sheriff's officer said. The blast blew out windows and knocked sheet rock off walls. Flames shot back to the tanker and set off the fuel, sending flames 100 feet into the air.
Emergency workers drew back, fearing a BLVE - Boiling Liquid Vapor Explosion, The butane in the main tanker had burned off by early Thursday and crews were trying to right the trailer.
About 10:30 p.m. there was an explosion of butane fumes in a second home, which blew out windows but did not cause a fire.
The driver of the van hit in the initial accident was reported in serious by stable condition at a local hospital. No other injuries were noted in press accounts.
More Drivers

FDA Eases Path for Oral-Fluid Testing
Federal actions could advance oral-fluid drug testing for truck drivers, but lab certification delays and marijuana rescheduling questions remain.
Read More →
Why Hiring Truck Drivers Is Getting Harder
Higher recruiting costs, a shrinking driver pool, and renewed pay competition are raising the stakes for fleets heading into 2027.
Read More →
Roehl Offers Truck Drivers $10,000 Retention Incentive
Payments begin after the first load and continue in mileage-based installments for eligible experienced drivers joining the fleet.
Read More →
Platform Science Adds Dispatch and Safety Tools
Four additions to PS Fleet help fleets monitor loads, manage driver coaching, share truck locations and adjust video system settings.
Read More →
When Language Stops the Truck: The Return of ELP Out-of-Service Orders
English language proficiency rules for commercial drivers aren’t new, but renewed out-of-service enforcement has raised the stakes. Here’s what carriers need to know before a driver reaches a roadside inspection.
Read More →
Samsara Launches Custom AI Agent Builder
Agent Studio lets fleets create AI tools for hours-of-service monitoring, reporting and driver support, including agents that communicate by phone.
Read More →
Trucker Path Expands Reserved Parking Network
Trucker Path has added close to 6,000 more truck parking spaces to its Trucker Path Reserved Parking Network with the addition of Safe Truck Parking.
Read More →
EEOC Sues Texas Trucking Company Over Driver Age Limits
The agency says Trancasa USA rejected applicants over 65 and applied tougher driving-record standards to those over 60.
Read More →
Nussbaum, Roehl Announce Second Driver Pay Increase This Year
This year has seen a swath of major truck driver pay increases as freight capacity has tightened.
Read More →
From One Generation to the Next: How Mentorship Builds Safer Truck Drivers
After three decades in trucking, Harold Perry shares what he's learned about driver safety, mentorship, and helping the next generation build confidence behind the wheel.
Read More →
