19/12/2011
A lightening strike could be to blame after a petrol tanker exploded leaving the driver lucky to be alive. Fire crews averted a disaster when the tanker, which was carrying more than 20,000 litres of fuel, burst into flames at the Caltex service station in Rowville during an electrical storm.
Country Fire Authority crews arrived to find fire stretching 150 metres from the service station to nearby Stamford Inn. Two cars were engulfed by flames and another was damaged. The 35 year old truck driver was seriously burned and was in a serious but stable condition at the Alfred Hospital. Up to 100 CFA firefighters tackled the inferno at the intersection of Wellington and Stud roads. Arson squad detectives are investigating.