THIRD UPDATE ON NTSB INVESTIGATION INTO I-95 TANKER TRUCK ACCIDENT NEAR BALTIMORE

On January 13, the National Transportation Safety Board dispatched a Go Team to investigate the crash of a tanker truck that departed a ramp where Interstate 895 crosses Interstate 95 in Elkridge, Maryland. The ensuing collisions and fire killed 4 persons. This is an update on the progress of that investigation.

In order to be able to prepare a computerized simulation of the accident, Safety Board investigators this week took additional measurements at the accident site, of the tank truck wreckage and of an exemplar truck. In the coming weeks, the data will be fed into a computer program and turned into a three-dimensional graphic depiction of what might have happened to the tank truck in the moments before the accident.

Several parties were added to the Safety Board's team over the weekend. The complete list of parties - organizations that provide the Board with expertise during the inquiry - to the NTSB investigation includes the Maryland State Police; Maryland Transportation Authority Police; Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration; Federal Highway Administration; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; Petro Chemical Transport, Inc.; and Citgo.

The team members will be wrapping up their on-scene work today and returning to their home bases of Washington, D.C.; Atlanta, Georgia and Arlington, Texas. Investigations take about a year to complete but safety recommendations may be issued at any time.

Media Contact: Ted Lopatkiewicz, (202) 314-6100
lopatt@ntsb.gov