Photo by Bill Petzold •
Flagmen direct traffic as crews continue to clean up debris Thursday morning on Vassar Road at the scene of a fuel truck explosion that occurred early Wednesday morning.
By Megan Decker
Staff Writer
DENMARK TOWNSHIP – The driver killed in the fuel truck crash and subsequent explosion on Wednesday has been identified as Travis Bielat, 26, of Allen Park.
According to the Tuscola County Sheriff’s Office, Bielat had been transferring a load of Ethanol from the POET Biorefining plant in Caro to a plant in Flint when the crash occurred. The truck involved was owned by Petroleum Transport Inc. (PTI) of Romulus.
Tracks at the scene of the crash on Vassar Road near Wilder Road, which is between M-46 and M-81, indicate the fuel truck left the roadway and struck a tree, causing flames to reach between 150 to 200 feet in the air. Firefighters from the Richville Fire Department were called to the scene shortly after 3 a.m. on Wednesday. The road was closed for several hours as crews continued to fight the blaze and cleanup the area. Traffic was diverted to Bradleyville Road.
An autopsy of the body was conducted on Thursday, but no tangible evidence was obtained, states a press release from Tuscola County Undersheriff Glen Skrent.
Detectives are still working on the investigation at this time.