Fatal crash involving gas tanker in South Lake Tahoe

Update 10:00 p.m. - One person has died after the tanker truck they were driving on Highway 50 just west of South Lake Tahoe collided with the Upper Truckee River bridge near Elks Club Road.

The preliminary investigation shows that at 11:55 a.m. on Saturday, September 7 the driver of a Toyota Prius was making a right turn from Elks Club Road onto Highway 50 when he pulled out in front of the eastbound truck. According to CHP South Lake Tahoe Commander Terry Lowther, the driver of the Pruis violated the truck driver's right-of-way.

The truck was carrying both diesel and gasoline and exploded as it hit the bridge, killing the driver. Lowther said they have been unable to determine who the driver of the truck was and everything was destroyed in the fire. CHP is making contact with who they think the truck belonged to and are attempting to make contact with them.

Lowther said the truck was not full of the gas and diesel it was carrying so firefighters were able to get the fire out quicker than if tanks were full. He said the responding fire agencies did a "tremendous job" in preventing the fire from getting into trees and spreading.

US50 and the surrounding roads may be able to open Saturday night with one-way controlled traffic over the bridge. Cleanup crews are on the scene and will be removing the last bit of liquid out of the truck so they can move it. Lowther said the truck could have leaked more fuel into the Upper Truckee River if it was moved any earlier. Once cleaned up they can move the truck and the westbound lane will open with controlled two-way traffic.

There may be issues with the soil and rock under the bridge and Caltrans will be evaluating that situation in the coming days.

Lake Valley Fire Protection District Chief Tim Alameda said all responding agencies including his department, South Lake Tahoe Fire, Tahoe Douglas Fire, eastern Alpine County Fire, and North Lake Fire, responded quickly and kept the situation from becoming even more of a catastrophe. He said Cal Fire, USFS, South Lake Tahoe Police and El Dorado County Sheriff's Office were also part of the response team.

El Dorado County and CAL OES emergency crews also responded to the scene to help with the spilled fuels.

The male driver of the Prius stayed on the scene, Lowther said.

Update 5:30 p.m. - US-50 in the South Lake Tahoe/Meyers area is closed between Pioneer Trail and Airport Road due to a vehicle collision. Elks Club Drive is also closed between US-50 and Pioneer Trail. Sawmill Road is closed between US-50 and Lake Tahoe Bl. Use alternate routes. This will be a long closure and there is no estimated time to open the road. Avoid traveling in this area if possible.

Update 4:20 p.m. - Expect US50 to be closed at the Upper Truckee bridge near Elks Club Road until at least Sunday according to officials. Investigators continue to be at the scene. Fuel did get into the river but a quick response by firefighters got booms around the spill immediately.

We will continue to update as more information becomes available.

Update 2:00 p.m. - At least one person has died in the fiery crash in South Lake Tahoe Saturday. The driver of the tanker died, according to Chris Fiore of the City of South Lake Tahoe. The resulting fire has been suppressed.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There has been a multi-vehicle crash involving a tanker on US50 and Elks Club Road in South Lake Tahoe. All emergency assets in the area are responding.

The resulting fire is under control at this time.

US50 is closed in both directions and alternative routes will need to be taken.

This is a developing story and no other details are available at this time.