Horrifying moment raging inferno engulfs propane truck after it smashed into railroad bridge in Glen

A raging fire engulfed a propane truck after it smashed into a railroad bridge in upstate New York, leaving a 60-year-old driver with horrific third-degree burns.

Photos and videos captured the horrifying explosion in Glenville, New York, after the 18-wheel tractor-trailer carrying propane crashed into the Maple Avenue bridge on Thursday evening.

Flames reached as high as 200 feet in the air and shockwaves were felt more than six miles from the crash site.

The 60-year-old driver, Sylvester Basil Jr. from Clute, Texas, sustained third-degree burns on his hands and face. He was airlifted to Westchester Medical Center.

'It was a significant explosion,' Town Supervisor Chris Koetzle said. 'It's, by far, the worst bridge hit - by far.

A raging fire engulfed a propane truck after it smashed into a railroad bridge in upstate New York, leaving a 60-year-old driver with horrific third-degree burns 

Photos and videos captured the explosion in Glenville, New York, after the 18-wheel tractor-trailer carrying propane crashed into the Maple Avenue bridge Thursday evening

🚨#BREAKING: Propane Truck Crashes into Railroad Bridge Triggering a Massive Explosion⁰⁰📌#Glenville | #Newyork ⁰⁰Numerous emergency crews are at the scene in Glenville, New York, after an 18-wheel tractor-trailer carrying propane crashed into a railroad bridge, triggering a… pic.twitter.com/u8eX7FFARS

The National Grid map showed that more than 1,200 people, including most residents and businesses on the east side of town, lost power due to the crash. 

Multiple households near the site were also evacuated. 

'The vehicle was struck and three occupants were injured,' police said in a news release after the crash. 'All were transported to Albany Medical Center.' 

A train can be seen traveling on tracks in videos and photos from the explosion site, but did not sustain any damage, according to authorities. 

'I would assume with the amount of fire that was here, that the train was probably engulfed,' Glenville police Chief Stephen Janik said. 

Police said Basil was traveling from Pennsylvania to make a delivery to an unknown location about an hour north of the crash site. 

He did not recognize the warning signs indicating a low height and struck the bridge at around 6.30pm Thursday, according to authorities. 

'He did indicate to officers as they were doing the investigation that he did not see the low bridge sign,' Janik said. 

Despite suffering severe burns, the driver was conscious and walked himself to the ambulance, according to authorities. 

Flames reached as high as 200 feet in the air and shockwaves were felt more than six miles from the crash site

Police said Basil was traveling from Pennsylvania to make a delivery to an unknown location about an hour north of the crash site

The National Grid map showed that more than 1,200 people, including most residents and business on the east side of town, lost power due to the crash

The fire was contained after emergency teams, including state and local police along with fire departments, rushed to the scene. 

Peter Sweet, a former nurse with 20 years of experience at Ellis Medicine, told the Daily Gazette as he was returning home, he saw the power flash on and off and smoke drift into the sky. 

He followed emergency responders to the scene and helped treat the driver after identifying himself as a nurse. 

'I just kept him calm, asking him where he was from and told him that I was going to take good care of him,' Sweet said. 'But his hands were pretty burnt.'

Police said Maple Avenue will be closed for 'an undetermined amount of time while the accident scene is made safe and the investigation can be conducted.' 

'I wouldn't come anywhere near Hetcheltown [Road], Glenridge [Road] or Maple,' Koetzle said. 

The town has gained notoriety for bridge strikes at multiple overpasses in recent years. 

The Glenridge Road bridge located nearby has been the site of multiple collisions, according to local reports. 

'We've got to get the state and the county together, and we've got to address this issue,' Koetzle said on Thursday evening. 

'This is a very dangerous area. Tonight, this just highlights that,' he said. 

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