Portion of I-70 reopens after propane tank explodes in back of tractor-trailer

SMITHTON, Pa. — Interstate 70 has reopened after a tractor-trailer hauling propane tanks exploded Thursday.

“Definitely different. I’ve never seen anything like this," said Trooper Robert Broadwater with Pennsylvania State Police.

Investigators are still trying to figure out what caused it to explode, paralyzing traffic in the eastbound lanes for hours.

“They were probably in a boxed trailer simply because they were supposedly empty," Broadwater said. "We’re looking into that right now. A lot of people are asking if it’s an explosion where’s the fire? We’re still looking into that too.”

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No one was hurt, even as one of the propane cylinders got blasted into the windshield of another car, while others were scattered all over the eastbound lanes.

While it created a mess to clean up — and headaches for drivers — police are thankful this wasn’t much worse.

“Usually when you get a situation like this you’re automatically assuming fatalities, but to come out of there with no injuries, that’s a blessing for us," Broadwater said.

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