Gasoline tanker explodes in flames in Merced County

ATWATER, CA (FOX 11) - Employees of a restaurant in the Merced County town of Atwater ran for their lives to escape the flames from an overturned gasoline tanker.

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CHP says, the driver came off highway 99, took a turn too fast and hit a concrete median.

That caused the tanker to flip onto its side and ignited the nine-thousand gallons of gas it was carrying.

A river of flame moved toward businesses before firefighters could put it out.

The truck driver was killed.