PLEASE BE PATIENT AS PICTURES LOAD
18-WHEELER ROLLOVER
FM 519 East of HWY 146
3-18-02
MARK PANDANELL
WEBMASTER
The driver of the 18-wheeler, Kevin Cooper sustained minor injuries when his rig left the road while traveling west on FM 519 at about 4:20 pm. He had just left Dow Marine Refinery and was headed for Bren Tag Refinery in Abeline. The tanker was loaded with Isopropyl Alcohol which was in a state of about 200 proof. The other 2 compartments carried a de-icing agent. None of the product was released, though a Level One alert was put out by the Texas City Fire Department due to the potential danger.
The passenger side of the 18-wheeler left the roadway and traveled about 50 feet before the tanker rolled over the guard railing. It then traveled about 50 more feet when the rig rolled over with the tanker. The truck then slid down the muddy ditch for about 75 to 100 feet before coming to a rest upside down. Cooper was pinned in the truck by the drivers seat when the roof collasped from the impact. Cooper stated that he could not recall why the truck left the roadway.
A passerby who witness the accident said that mud was flying everywhere. He thought Cooper was thrown from the truck during the rollover. He stopped his vehicle and made his way through the mud filled ditch to look for Cooper in the bushes. His main fear at the time was if the tanker would explode.
The accident was worked by LaMarque Fire and Texas City Fire. Rural Metro ambulance was also on scene to assist with patient care. Also assisting were Garner Enviromental and Dow Chemical's Emergency Management Team.
LaMarque Fire used hydraulic cutters to cut the top portion of the drivers seat off to remove Cooper. He was complaining of chest pain. Life Flight was used to fly Cooper to UTMB. Later that night, the company he works for said that he would be released in the morning.
Garner Environmental offloaded the diesel from the fuel tanks and then the Isopropanol from the tanker. Then 2 heavy wreckers from Dan Wheeler Inc., a service contracted by the owner of the tanker, came in and righted the tanker.
Garner Environmental then continued to clean the rig and prepare it to be towed to Pasadena. Texas City Fire washed mud and dirt from the roadway as the scene was being wrapped up. Texas City Fire was toned out for this call at 4:30 pm Monday afternoon and returned to station after being on scene almost 12 hours.
I recieved this Email from the Kevin today (2Apr02).
Hello. I am Kevin Cooper , the driver of the 18 wheeler which
turned over on March 18th. I would like to take this time to thank everyone
involved in helping me in my time of need. I am recovering fine with just
some bruised ribs and some back pain but I still have my life and in time
the pain will go away. I appreciate everything everyone has done to help get
me out of the truck. The experience is something I would never like to repeat.
From the man who called 911 and came to the truck to see if I was still in
it(I never did get to meet the person) to the guys who cut me out of the truck,
to the people who were with me in the helicopter, to the doctors and nurses
in the hospital, and to the man ( I believe his name was Mark) who brought
me the picture of one of my little girls to me in the hospital, I thank you
all. If I have left anyone out or got the name wrong I am sorry I can't really
remember to much about the day with all that went on. Most of all I thank
God because without him I could have easily have been killed in a wreck of
that proportion. There is a reason for the good Lord to spare my life and
I can't wait to find out what it is. Thanks again for your quick response
in rescuing me so I could come home and finish off my life with my 3 little
girls, friends and family. I am grateful that no one was hurt from the accident
to the rescue. May the good Lord look after you all as he has looked after
me. Thanks again.
Kevin Cooper
I recieved the following Email yesterday thanking everyone involved with extricating Kevin.
I am Kevin Cooper's aunt, Doren Scheurer Miller, and I want
to send you my
heartfelt thanks!
My father was a Volunteer firefighter for many years and is currently, at
age
75, helping organize a unit in his new community. I know the hardships and
challenges that you face daily.
We are so grateful for your rapid response and care you have given Kevin.
I worked for many years with the Louisiana State Police and know the value
of a
good rescue team!
Many lives have been saved by wonderful professionals like you.
You are a Godsend!
You saved a Daddy on Monday, he was able to go home to his 3 little girls
and
a family that loves and treasures every moment we have with him.
Please thank everyone in your unit for our family.
I know ya'll are treasures to your family and I pray for your safety!
God Bless You,
Doren Scheurer-Miller
 LOOKING FROM FRONT TO REAR OF RIG |
 KEN BEACH OF TEXAS CITY FIRE CLIMBS IN SLEEPER OF RIG TO CHECK COOPERS LEGS |
 ANOTHER FRONT TO REAR VIEW |
 RURAL METRO PARAMEDIC WORKING ON COOPER |
 LAMARQUE FIRE USING THE HYDRAULIC CUTTERS ON SEAT BACK |
 TEXAS CITY FIRE CHECKING FOR ANY LEAKS. NOTE HOW CLOSE TANKER CAME TO PIPE LINES |
 RURAL METRO PERSONNEL IN BLUE SHIRTS |
 LAMARQUE FIRE PULLING COOPER FROM WRECK |
 SLIDING BACK BOARD IN UNDER COOPER |
 PULLING COOPER OUT ON BACK BOARD |
 LIFE FLIGHT NURSE IN MIDDLE |
 VIEW OF RIG |
 REAR VIEW OF RIG, NOTICE THE MUD THROWN ONTO ROAD |
 FRONT VIEW OF RIG |
 LAMARQUE FIRE CLEANING UP |
 LAMARQUE FIRE HOSING MUD OFF OF TEXAS CITY FIRE |
 VIEW OF MUD THROWN ONTO ROADWAY |
 GARNER TRUCK PREPARES TO OFF LOAD DIESEL FROM FUEL TANKS |
 OFF LOADING DIESEL |
 VIEW LOOKING FORWARD FROM RIG. NOTICE WALL OF MUD RIG PUSHED IN FRONT OF IT |
 TEXAS CITY FIRE STANDS BY AS PERSONNEL PREPARE TO START OFF LOADING ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL |
 ONE OF THE HEAVY WRECKERS |
 SECOND HEAVY WRECKER |
 RAISING RIG BACK ONTO ROADWAY |
 FRONT OF RIG |
 BACK OF TANKER. SHOWING OUTER SKIN TORN AWAY |
 PASSENGER SIDE OF RIG |
 ANOTHER VIEW OF PASENGER SIDE OF RIG |
 SLEEPER PORTION OF RIG |