Tanker truck flips, explodes

MELVILLE, N.Y. (AP) — A fuel truck flipped and exploded on New York’s Long Island Expressway on Saturday morning, killing the driver and creating a fireball seen for miles.

The heavily trafficked highway that connects the suburbs to New York City was closed in both directions for hours after the intense heat melted the supports for a huge road sign, which collapsed across all eight lanes of the roadway.

Westbound lanes were reopened about 6:15 p.m., officials said. The fire caused the pavement to buckle in the eastbound lanes, and workers were expected to begin repaving the road overnight, said Chief Michael Sharkey of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department.

Eileen Peters, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Transportation, said that the agency was “cautiously optimistic” that the eastbound lanes could be repaired and reopened by today.

She said about 200 feet of road that had melted needed to be repaved. She said DOT staff had been working throughout the day.

“They will continue through the night until we can open the roadway safely,” she said.

She could not estimate the cost for the repairs but said the state would seek to recuperate the cost through insurance.