A fuel tanker fire on the Western Spur of the NJ Turnpike Monday morning created such intense, thick black smoke that it blew across the Hudson River and over western Manhattan.
Chopper 4 was over the scene at the northbound off-ramp to Route 3 just before 6:45 a.m. Smoke from the burning, overturned tanker rose to at least 1,600 feet, and traffic backed up on both sides of the road. Hours after the accident, authorities were still offloading the tanker's 8,700 gallons of gasoline.
Video from a ferry crossing the Hudson River showed a heavy column of the smoke blowing across the river and straight into Manhattan.
Traffic cameras in New Jersey could also see the smoke from miles away.
Multiple local fire departments responded. The East Rutherford Fire Department said the tanker driver survived with only minor injuries.
