FYI.

This story is over 5 years old.

Tech

Watch a Semi Truck Catch Air, Then Explode

Local news reports say the crash, which happened in Greensburg, Indiana yesterday, did not result in any major injuries.

While you're sitting at your desk this morning, complaining about how tough your week was and posting TGIF cat macros on Facebook, at least be glad that your workplace didn't just explode.

(By the way, the trucker recording the video swears a lot—wouldn't you?—so be careful at work.)

The above video shows a tractor-trailer go airborne over an overpass, as caught by the dashcam of a passing semi.  As if that isn't shocking enough—launching tens of thousands of pounds into the air isn't an easy proposition—the truck erupts into a fireball on impact. Local news reports say the crash, which happened in Greensburg, Indiana yesterday, did not result in any major injuries.

It's unclear if this was due to the truck's cargo or its diesel tanks. Diesel oil is less explosive than, say, gasoline, because it's both less volatile and less flammable, comparatively speaking. But any material safety data sheet for diesel oil will note that its vapors can be explosive, so it's possible. The answer will likely be found when the current investigation into the crash is finished, as will the cause of the crash, which remains unknown.