I-26 has completely reopened Thursday, following an extensive overnight cleanup after a tanker was involved in an explosive ten-car pileup near St. Andrews on Wednesday, according to The State.
Several people were hospitalized but there have been no serious injuries or fatalities reported, according to a South Carolina Highway Patrol spokesman.
It is still unclear to officials how exactly the accident unfolded but the source of the explosion and subsequent fire was a tractor-trailer hauling an 8,500 gallon gas tanker, which created a column of thick, black smoke that could be seen for miles around.
Many morning commuters found heavy congestion in areas all around the accident, as emergency services arrived on scene and shut down the interstate. After several hours of cleanup however, SCDOT opened three lanes to ease with both east and west-bound traffic.
The accident occurred at around 5:45 a.m. on Wednesday morning between exits 104 and 106 on I-26. The fire caused severe damages to the surrounding highway and areas and required immediate repairs to help resume traffic.
As some of the fuel being transported was spilled into a drainage ditch alongside the interstate, the Department of Health and Environmental Control was called in to analyze it for a potential health hazard.
The blaze occurred in close proximity to a fireworks store according to SCHP, and noted if if were not for the swift action by firefighters, the situation could have deteriorated significantly.
The cause of the pileup is still being investigated.