A massive fireball erupted on a major California highway Saturday after a tanker truck carrying thousands of gallons of gasoline crashed and burst into flames.
The enormous blaze broke out on southbound Highway 99 near Second Street outside Selma in Fresno County, forcing authorities to shut down large parts of the roadway.
Video from the scene showed enormous flames engulfing the tanker as thick columns of black smoke poured into the sky, visible from miles away.
According to the California Highway Patrol, the collision involved a fuel tanker semi-truck and a box truck.
Watch the clips below:
A freeway in central California was shut down on Saturday after a collision involving a big rig sparked a massive fire.
According to reports, a semi-truck carrying 8,600 gallons of fuel struck an Isuzu box truck on Highway 99 in Selma. Both drivers safely escaped their vehicles… pic.twitter.com/E58mIWSjN8
— CBS News (@CBSNews) August 9, 2026
Massive explosion on California highway as tanker bursts into flameshttps://t.co/uFBheHjOar pic.twitter.com/CB8OLV99Sk
— California Post (@californiapost) August 9, 2026
A freeway in central California was closed down after a “collision involving a big rig” resulted in a massive fire erupting on Saturday, August 8.
ABC30 reported a semi-truck carrying 8,600 gallons of fuel hit an Isuzu box truck on Highway 99 in Selma.
California Highway Patrol… pic.twitter.com/X6TrizosWT
— ABC 7 Chicago (@ABC7Chicago) August 9, 2026
The tanker was carrying approximately 8,600 gallons of fuel when it crashed and caught fire.
Thankfully, both drivers escaped the inferno with only minor injuries.
Authorities believe an unsafe lane change may have caused the collision, although the circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation.
The tanker was completely engulfed in flames after the impact, while the box truck sustained extensive damage.
Firefighters and other emergency personnel descended on the scene as the blaze continued to burn along the highway.
The California Department of Transportation shut down southbound Highway 99 near Second Street while crews worked to contain the fire and deal with the wreckage.
Motorists were diverted toward State Route 43 using the Floral Avenue exit, with drivers experiencing significant delays.
Despite the enormous amount of gasoline involved and the scale of the resulting fire, no further injuries or deaths were reported.
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