An unfortunate accident in East Montpelier sets the local river on fire.

Just before nine o'clock in the evening of August 26, 1940, a tanker truck hauling gasoline tipped over in East Montpelier.

It was loaded with nearly 1600 gallons of gasoline, which began pouring out from the top of the truck and was ignited by a hot exhaust pipe. The driver and a passenger escaped from the cab through a hole in the roof as the truck burst into flames.

Tipped on its side at the junction of Routes 2 and 14, the truck leaked gas into a culvert, under the street and directly into the river. Motorists stopped to take pictures of the river literally on fire as the flammable gas floated on top.

The truck valued at $7,500, was a total loss.

Image courtesy of the Vermont Historical Society.

August Archives | August 27