Dramatic collision on Metropolitan kills 1, closes scene for inspection

One person is dead and six are injuredafter a tanker truck carrying flammable liquids caught fire and exploded in a rush-hour collision on Tuesdayinvolving at least four vehicles.

More than 100 firefighters were called to the site of the accident asblack smoke was sent billowing over Montreal.

• The latest developments on the Highway 40 accident and aftermath here
• What happened?Scroll through the most dramatic photos and video

Fire operations chief DannyCiavaglia said the injured were treated on the scene by Urgences-Sant.

The fire was eventually put out but Highway 40 remainedclosed Tuesday evening in both directions at Lajeunesse Street as firefighters grappled with what Ciavaglia called a "hazardous materials intervention" that also involved officials from the federal and provincial environment ministries.

He said Montreal's fire service cannot yet confirm the nature of the flammable liquid contained in the tanker truck.

He said firefighters used foam to put out the fire, and"it's still hot, and we can't go walking anywhere near it until it cools down."

In this videotaken by a witness in a building overlooking the highway, just moments after the accident, we see the flames spreading.

[VIDEO]

'Plan alternate routes' advises Coderre in aftermath

Montreal Mayor DenisCoderresaid that safety is a priority in the aftermath of the deadly accident. He advised motorists who typically drive on Highway 40pastLajeunesseStreetto plan alternativeroutes.

"There will be some sacrifice," he said.

Man tries desperately to save fellow truck driver

8 years ago

Duration 2:52

A man is seen trying to pull the driver from a truck filled with diesel before it exploded in Montreal on Tuesday.

After provincial police are done their investigation into what led to the collision, investigators from Quebec's Transport Ministry will begin their work at the scene.

QuebecTransportMinisterJacques Daoustsaid his team will work through the night to determine the integrity of the overpass.

"One death is enough. We don't want anything else to happen," he said.

The explosion and fire occurred on the westbound side of the highway so Daoust said he hopes the eastbound side can reopen quickly, but the extent of the damage sustained by the overpass will determine how long it will be closed for.

Sewer system contaminated

The sewer system has been contaminated, Ciavagliasaid, and environment officials on the scene are trying to determinethe extent of that contamination.

Ciavaglia said at least one building the headquarters for theCaisse Desjardins and the FTQ, just 100 metres from the site of the accident has been damaged from the intense heat of the fire.

Eyewitness Patrick McQuilken, who works in the building, said at around 4 p.m., just as he was poised to call 911, he heard explosions.

"There was a series of violent explosions. Our building is 17 storeys,and our whole building was engulfed in smoke,"McQuilken told CBC'sFrench-language service Radio-Canada.

Transports Qubec spokesperson Nomba Danielle said theaccident happened on the westbound side ofHighway 40, and that elevatedstructure is definitelydamaged.

Ministry officials will be able to evaluate the extent of the damage once emergency crews have completed their work in the area, she said.

"The minister of transport will inspect the structure as soon as possible,"Danielle told CBC News.

Earlier, witnesses saidas many four cars caughtfire.

The plume of smoke was visible from as far away asChambly, 30 kilometres southeast ofMontreal.

Vincent Leroux, who lives in a building overlooking the Metropolitan expressway near the scene of the accident, toldRadio-Canada, that the area hadnot been evacuated. However, he said, residents of homes in the areapoured out onto the street to get a better look at what wasgoing on.

The service roads near the accident remainclosed.

Service on theSTM'sOrange line is now back to normal, however, until 6 p.m.trainswere prevented from stoppingatCrmazie, the Metro station that is only a few hundredmetres away from the accident.

Transports Qubec saidHighway 40will remainclosed for anundetermined period.

The Quebec provincial police aresuggesting drivers use Jean Talon or Jarrystreetsas alternative routesaround the scene of the accident.

• The latest developments on the Highway 40 accident and aftermath here
• What happened?Scroll through the most dramatic photos and video