An overturned Sheetz gas tanker exploded on a highway in Frederick, Md., Saturday afternoon.
The explosion resulted in one death and some damage to other vehicles and nearby homes, CNN reports.
Maryland State Police responded to the scene as black, billowing smoke and flames covered the accident. They advised local residents to avoid the area.
The incident occurred on U.S. Route 15, and the area was closed between Route 50 and 7th Street. The driver of the tanker was the lone confirmed death.
Officials said the Sheetz gas tanker overturned near the 7th Street and Rosemont Avenue exits, then hit a tree and exploded, causing a fire that impacted homes on nearby Apple Avenue, The Frederick News-Post reported.
No subsequent fatalities or injuries were reported, according to Ron Snyder, public information officer for the MSPD.
The cause of the incident is currently under investigation.
Frederick’s Division of Fire & Rescue Services (DFRS) personnel, as well as the state’s Fire Marshal and Department of the Environment, were also notified and reported to the scene.
“We are providing all available resources to assist with this incident,” said Frederick Mayor Michael O’Connor in a statement to his Facebook page.
“We will continue to support DFRS as they lead incident control and clean up. I implore all residents to avoid the area to allow DFRS to do their jobs and prevent any fire from spreading,” he added.