NHTSA Complaint #10424443 — 1998 FORD PICKUP

I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON HIGHWAY 21S AT AROUND 9AM ON THE MORNING OF 7/30/08 AND HAD JUST FILLED THE GAS TANK UP ABOUT 10 MILES BACK, TRAVELING AT THE SPEED LIMIT OF 55 MPH IN THE RIGHT LANE WHEN THE FRONT STRAP OF THE GAS TANK BROKE AND THE TANK WAS DRAGGED FOR A SHORT DISTANCE UNTIL I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE TANK RECEIVED A SPLIT IN THE FRONT AND PROCEEDED TO LEAK GAS. I IMMEDIATELY PHONED 911 TO REPORT THE INCIDENT. FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED ALONG WITH THE PASSAIC COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. BECAUSE THE FUEL LEAK WAS MORE THAN 5 GALLONS I WAS INFORMED I HAD TO CALL AND WAIT FOR A PRIVATE HAZARDOUS WASTE COMPANY TO ARRIVE AND CLEANUP. AFTER 6 HOURS AND CLEANUP HAD VEHICLE TOWED. *TR