Reenactment adds pieces to puzzling tanker accident

ELKRIDGE, Md. (AP) — A federal investigative team shut down a part of Interstate 895 yesterday afternoon to retrace the path of a tanker truck before it plunged from an overpass onto Interstate 95, creating an explosion that killed four.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) led the investigation, using a similar tanker truck to conduct the site test. The tanker was driven up and down the side of the interstate as investigators compared 165 feet of tire marks on the road to the truck’s dimensions.

Maryland Transportation Authority spokesman Bryon Johnston Jr. said the test allowed investigators “to further piece together what happened.”

“Having a truck out that’s a sister vehicle to the one they believe had the accident helps them be able to align the tracks and do some more technical evaluation of the incident,” Mr. Johnston said.

Investigators said they hoped to determine if the tanker had any mechanical problems.

Mr. Johnston said investigators at the reconstruction scene were “taking measurements, trying to line up the truck with different tracks to see what they can do with evidence that’s existing.”

Investigators were looking for the cause of the accident and also looking into improving safety on interstates for all motorists.

It may be that the tanker’s full load of gasoline shifted, causing the truck to become uncontrollable for the driver, Jackie Frost, 64, of Finksburg, Md., police have said.

Two witness on Interstate 895 saw Mr. Frost driving “erratically” before the truck plunged three stories off the overpass onto the interstate on Tuesday afternoon.

“One witness said that they had observed the driver in the vehicle slumped over his wheel,” Cpl. Gregory Prioleau said yesterday. “Obviously, we’re looking at that report as well as any other witness reports. We’re unable to say at this time why or even if this actually occurred.”

With three victims identified so far, police were waiting for confirmation of the fourth the driver of a car.

“It can be a long process,” Cpl. Prioleau said yesterday.

The drivers were being identified through dental records, by the vehicles they were driving and personal items that survived the fiery collision.

Maurice Durschlag, 62, of Glen Burnie, was the driver of the pickup truck involved in the accident. Rita Gall, 42, of Lansing, Mich., was driving a box-type tractor trailer carrying retail merchandise. The lone survivor, an unidentified truck driver, jumped out of his truck to avoid injury.

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