Hydrogen Cylinders Truck involved in Highway Crash Fire
A huge car crash take place on the highway A4/E70 between Padua and Trieste, North of Italy. More than 250 cars were involved. More than 13 persons died and more than 90 injured. The main reason of the accident was fog on a highway. A truck with hydrogen cylinders was also involved in the accident: due to the high temperature caused by the conventional fire, the valve system of the hydrogen bottles fused, with consequence hydrogen release and ignition.
Event Date
March 13, 2003
Record Quality Indicator
Region / Country
Event Initiating System
Classification of the Physical Effects
Nature of the Consequences
Causes
Cause Comments
The truck transporting hydrogen has been involved in a multiple crash accidents on the highway. The hydrogen was released due to failure of the pressure control system of the bottles due to high temperature induced by the already existing conventional fires.
Facility Information
Application Type
Application
Specific Application Supply Chain Stage
Components Involved
cars, highway equipment
Storage/Process Medium
Location Type
Location description
Countryside Road Or Highway
Operational Condition
Pre-event Summary
The damage to the hydrogen bottles was caused by the chain of crashes. The highway fire had already started when the release valve failed due to too high temperature
Consequences
Number of Injured Persons
24
Currency
Event Nature
Emergency Action
The fire brigades have succeeded to confine the fire, also using an helicopter which has poured 24 tons of water targeting the 15 hydrogen bottles which had started to release and ignited hydrogen.
Release Type
Release Substance
Hydrogen Release Concentration (%)
100.00
Ignition Source
Detonation
No
Deflagration
No
High Pressure Explosion
No
High Voltage Explosion
No
Flame Type
Source Category
References
References
Online article of La Repubblica of March 14, 2003
https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2003/03/14…
(accessed December 2022)