Missing driver in I-5 propane trailer fire did not commit a crime by leaving, Investigators say

After the massive, explosive propane tank fire that snarled traffic on the Portland I-5 for almost 12 hours yesterday, many were left asking about what happened to the driver.
When Portland Fire & Rescue crews arrived on the scene shortly before 5 a.m., they found the fully-consumed trailer and bursting propane canisters, but no driver or truck cab.
The fire itself was put out quickly thanks to the efforts of the firefighters, but northbound I-5 between North Skidmore and Going Streets remained closed for nearly 12 hours for damage assessment and repairs, affecting commuter traffic all day.
On Wednesday afternoon Sergeant Allen of the PPB provided clarification on what happened.
Allen noted that the investigation is not a PPB matter, and was handled by the Portland Fire Investigations Unit, which is comprised of 5 investigators with PF&R who are sworn law enforcement officers.
The Portland Fire Investigations Unit believes the fire started in the driver’s side wheel well area of the trailer and was a mechanical issue. The driver left the scene in the truck cab, leaving the burning trailer behind.
Ferrell Gas owns the tractor trailer that was pulling more than 100 Blue Rhino propane tanks Tuesday morning when the fire started.
An investigator talked to a representative of the company, and the driver reported the incident. Additionally, the driver is cooperating with investigators and law enforcement is no longer asking for him to reach out.
Because this was not a crash, there’s no law requiring the driver to remain at the scene and exchange information.
"There is no indication of any criminal act," Allen stated.
katu.com/news/local/missing-d...
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[@dannydaugherty527]

as an ex-truck driver, that is a hazardous load and there are restrictions, you are not allowed to leave a hazardous load, and you are to report a leak or fire, or accident immediately, who ever said the driver leaving the scene did nothing wrong is wrong, and maybe if they don't want to enforce the law maybe they need to be fired

[@juliaweber212]

I totally agree

[@fredhill8730]

So true, I have hazmat my self.

[@JS-yj7ow]

How is it that the driver wouldn’t be expected to stay on scene regardless if it was required or not?

[@kg4gav]

It was dangerous to stay on scene with 100+ burning and exploding propane tanks. That is why it was not required and why the driver left and went to a safe location and reported it.

[@msmoe8687]

Im glad the driver is ok, that is all that matters nobody was hurt.

[@timeout...4nva]

Ferrell Gas has a few questions answered. Let's start with the truck and trailer inspections and maintenance. They'll probably get a rather large bill from Portland Fire and ODOT.

[@jhonsiders6077]

It was I bet a stuck brake that can happen anytime one of my local trucks yesterday had a hot brake was a lot of smoke but no fire . My Mechanic found the caged spring for parking in the brake can was broken and punctured the diaphragm causing it to drag a bit replaced it on the spot and sent him on his way .

[@LittleBudd13]

Yes... More people are killed by rich corporate neglect then gun violence.

[@LittleBudd13]

Neglect for not calling haz mat response... Its in the book in his door next to the paperwork within reach. He is responsible for that load till chem trex arives or someone else comes to relive him of duty....... You are responsible for any hazardous load till it is in safe haven. Now was this a consumer commodity and unplaqued? Possibly. But you still have a responsibility to communicate the danger.

[@juliaweber212]

I agree

[@timeout...4nva]

No accident to report.Driver did call 911 and company. Unhooked the tractor from the burning trailer and cleared the scene. What else could driver have done? Not a damn thing more.

[@trishhamilton2049]

was not in the roadway 🤣😂 Thank all goodness no one was hurt being liberal near that fire.

[@420saralou]

He could have unhitched and pulled over. He left a burning pile of propane tanks to go all willy nilly endangering people!!

[@timeout...4nva]

@@420saralou He probably did pull over - a safe distance away. With these propane bombs going off, what's anyone to do? Make the guy guilty of just doing his job or something. He could not stop what's already happening.

[@EvilNeuro]

​@@trishhamilton2049are you implying that fire safety is a liberal thing and somehow is bad in your books ? Tf?

[@GungaLaGunga]

yep. wait im' not watching the video yet, let me take a wild guess: driver probably had been warning the company about safety issues for a long time, the company did nothing, because safety would cut into profits, this happened, and he got fed up quit and left bobtail because the other company he drives for told him if he was late again for the next pickup, they woul dnot hire him again. How these corporation treat their drivers is criminal. Contractors probably so they can blame the driver. Who would want to drive trucks in this corrupt state of society and corporate corruption. OK let's see if I'm close. watching the video now... and...

[@DanSheehan-dt9rv]

leaving the scene of an accident is not a crime? not in P town anyway.... ridiculous

[@trishhamilton2049]

no accident other than the freight catching fire, and that was NOT in the roadway. However the fire did damage the roadway. This was not an driving accident, twas a freight accident.

[@EvilNeuro]

If he stayed around and died due to it you would be saying "but he could've just driven away!" Shush

[@lovelight6973]

I mean safety first. He had to unhook the trailer and get to safety. Which would be a good idea to get a good distance. Its probably protocol.

[@420saralou]

Endangering lives isn't a crime? Wow!

[@ThatOpalGuy]

accidents are not intentional.

[@jonasbrothersrockist]

It might have been MechaGodzilla blew gas tank up.

[@jhonsiders6077]

As long as the triangles were put behind it every thing was done as should. They use converted beverage trailers to haul those tanks. It’s all aluminum that is why nothing is left it vaporized . Most likely a brake was dragging and started the fire . Or a running flat tire but that’s not often . He did do right to unhook the tractor or a bigger fire would have happened .

[@gwiyomikim5988]

Without gas some folks might have to boil their 4th of July hotdogs this year.😢

[@joifire]

Question 🙋‍♀️ did they just leave the trailer ? It caught fire 🔥 AFTER left bc unsafe driving capacity ?

[@antoniaoliver8268]

We don't view this as possible terrorism?

[@ThatOpalGuy]

goog thing he is safe.

[@ThatOpalGuy]

Fatherton is gonna swoop in and take away customers.

[@juliaweber212]

Thats dumb he left the scene and it could've been wat worse

[@daalnweaver4354]

I don't know about you all but I aint stopping to grab my fucking cell phone if I've got propane.Tanks on fire ... I'm fucking running Before shit goes boom

[@jimjoe9945]

Hilarious!

[@TrinhNguyen-nc7hj]

He should have stayed, and help put out the fire.

[@trishhamilton2049]

"should have " is kinda like feelings they do not matter. Who says if he did not have a fire truck he may have. Also you realize it was a life and death sitch? Even the correct crew to deal with it was like WTF???? So a motorist without fire training would have been dead tryna put that out.

[@lovelight6973]

No he can't. I'm an EMT. Had eye witnessed that. And I'm usually in the area but I happen to be off that day. You have to have a certain amount of distance. You have to contact chemtrak. You have to contact the fire department 911. There's a whole protocol and hazmat training that we receive. There's numbers that we have to provide to describe what's going on depending on whatever is happening in front of us today and we have to remain a certain amount of distance in order to keep the area safe. So there's a whole process that goes into this. And the fire department is specifically trained for these kind of things.

[@timeout...4nva]

NOT a firefighter. Just had one fire extinguisher and a phone.

[@timeout...4nva]

@@lovelight6973 Excellent explanation. Thank you.

[@kg4gav]

With what? With the size fire extinguishers they have on semi trucks, a brake or tire fire is burning too hot and too out of control by the time it is recognized, truck stopped and extinguisher accessed. If you have the opportunity to do hands on extinguisher training, you will find they are useless against all but the smallest fires, and then you only have a few seconds before it is empty. He did the best thing he could do: Get the truck and its hundreds of gallons of liquid diesel fuel away from the fire and get to a safe location to report the fire.