A DRIVER jumped from his truck in flames moments before it exploded at the roundabout on Sadler’s farm.
The Essex Fire Department says the driver was taken to hospital with burns after the hell, which saw 38,000 gallons of aviation fuel burned.
Eyewitnesses reported that the driver had to jump to a safe place through the flames after noticing that the tanker truck was on light.
Kelly Bye, 41, of Basildon, was traveling with her boyfriend on the opposite side of the road parallel to the fuel tanker truck when it caught fire.
He saw the driver fall to his knees as he jumped from the tanker truck with flames underneath.
Ms Bye said: “We were waiting for the lights on, and suddenly we saw the flames coming from the tanker truck, before the driver jumped and ran a safe distance.
“It went up so fast that my boyfriend put his foot on the ground and yelled at all the cars to move.
“Then we heard huge bangs as the tires went.
“Fortunately, there were already people out of their cars going to the driver to make sure he was okay when the police showed up.
“I’ve never been so close to something like this and I’ve never been so scared, I’m glad the man came out.
“I don’t know how injured he was, but when he jumped, he had to jump between the flames.
“The flames were in front, below where he was driving.”
Canvey Way remained closed last night, more than 24 hours after the incident which began around 5pm on Wednesday.
Emergency repairs had to be made to the road surface, streetlights and traffic lights.
Another eyewitness commented that his daughter was in front of the tanker when the fire started and also saw the driver jump to a safe place.
Pam Kirkman said: “Well done firefighters, very brave people.
“My daughter was dropping my grandmother’s back in a pajama, and she was right in front of her, she called the fire department as soon as she got out of the way of the flames.
“He jumped into the flames as soon as he realized.”
Essex firefighters believe the fire was caused “accidentally and is being investigated.”
The driver turned to social media after the event to say he was fine and had only suffered minor burns.
Castle Point MP Rebecca Harris praised emergency crews for their work in maintaining public safety.
He added: “I am very happy that no one was seriously injured in the tanker fire at Sadlers Farm, including the driver of the tanker truck which I understand was able to escape before the fire consumed the cabin.
“I was in Benfleet at the time and I saw with other residents that the firefighters and the police were doing their job with complete calm and professionalism.”