UPDATE: Man seriously injured in Townsend fuel tanker crash; SR1 remains closed

Troopers say a man was seriously injured, after a crash involving a van and a fuel tanker caused a HAZMAT situation, between Townsend and Smyrna. State Route 1 remains closed in both directions as emergency officials continue containment and clean up at the scene.

Delaware State Police say on Wednesday, around 8:20 AM, a 2000 Chevrolet Express van towing a loaded car dolly was traveling State Route 1 (SR1) northbound, in the area of New Discovery Road, in Townsend. Troopers say the Chevrolet's right back tire blew out which caused the driver, 55-year-old Musikami Bishogo, of Dover, to lose control. According to the report, the van then crossed the grassy center median and entered into the SR1 southbound lanes and into the path of a 2013 Volvo tractor trailer tanker, which was carrying approximately 8,500 gallons of unleaded gasoline. As the driver of the tanker attempted to avoid the van, troopers report that the tractor trailer jack-knifed and overturned and eventually came to a stop off the right side of the roadway. The tanker was apparently partially down a grass embankment.

According to authorities, as a result of the crash, the tanker was damaged which caused the release of an unknown amount of gasoline. DSP reports that the 56-year-old man, of Vineland, New Jersey, sustained serious injuries while driving the tanker during the crash. He was reportedly airlifted to Christiana Hospital by Trooper 4.

SR1  between Exit 119 (North Smyrna) and DE 299 (Middletown/Odessa) remain closed as Delaware Department of Natural Resources (DNREC), Emergency Prevention and Response Team work to clean up the scene of the crash.

Law enforcement says Bishogo was cited for  operating an unsafe motor vehicle, operation of an unregistered motor vehicle and failure to have insurance identification in possession.