It is fairly well-known that when a car is involved in an accident with a truck, the outcome will likely be devastating. Catastrophic injuries are common for the occupants of cars involved in truck accidents and in the worst cases, death is the final result. The risk of death is arguably even higher when the truck in the accident is transporting a flammable substance.

Earlier this month a Pennsylvania man died after he rear-ended the back of a tanker truck. According to state police, at the time of the accident, the tanker was hauling more than 8,000 gallons of gasoline.

The tragic incident occurred on Interstate 79 near a rest area in Bridgeville. State police indicate that the truck and the Volkswagen GTI, the 40-year-old man was driving, were both travelling south when the collision happened. When the Volkswagen struck the back of the tractor trailer, the driver of the car was reportedly speeding. As a result of the force of the impact, the Volkswagen burst into flames.

Despite the efforts of the truck driver to put out the flames that ensued, both with a fire extinguisher and water he had in his truck, the driver of the Volkswagen could not be saved. He was declared dead at the scene. The truck driver's efforts may have been in vain as the driver of the Volkswagen reportedly was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision.

It is not clear what caused the driver of the Volkswagen to rear-end the truck. An investigation is being conducted by state police that may or may not answer that question.

Source: Trib Live, "Man dies in crash with gas tanker," Margaret Harding, June 15, 2012