Minivan plows into big propane tank

By KATU.com Staff Published: Aug 15, 2009 at 12:15 PM PST Last Updated: Aug 15, 2009 at 2:40 PM PST
This car plowed into a 1,000-gallon propane tank in Vancouver Friday night. »Play Video
The 2001 Oldsmobile Minivan whose driver plowed into a 1,000-gallon propane tank in Vancouver late Friday night. (Photos courtesy Kyle Kirby, Vancouver Fire Department.)

VANCOUVER, Wash. -- Firefighters closed a bar and convenience store after a woman crashed her car into a 1,000-gallon propane tank near the Orchards area of Vancouver.

It happened at the Five Corners Service Center at 9404 N.E. 76th St. just before 11 p.m. Friday night.

A 2001 Oldsmobile Minivan hit a fire hydrant before knocking over the 1,000-gallon tank. The call was received at 10:42 p.m. and Vancouver fire, Clark County Sher riff’s Office and American Medical Response teams responded.

When rescue crews arrived, they found what they called "a knee-high propane cloud" drifting through the intersection of Northeast 94th Avenue and Northeast 76th Street.

The woman driving the car was taken to a hospital for treatment. No word on the extent of her injuries.

See the exact location of this accident.