Tanker truck catches fire in Riverhead; area shut down for hours

Firefighters managed to contain a fire that engulfed a gas tanker truck Sunday that had just made a stop at a Riverhead gas station, authorities said.

Riverhead police responded to the report of the tanker fire at East Main Street near Elton Avenue about 7:15 p.m. and found the truck engulfed in flames. The driver had driven away from the gas station and came to a stop down the road, police said.

Riverhead police shut down the surrounding area with the assistance of the state police and Suffolk sheriff's deputies. It was not immediately clear if evacuations had to be made.

Riverhead firefighters responded and extinguished the fire before it could spread, authorities said.

The tanker driver was transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center for treatment of a minor injury. East Main Street between Elton and Hubbard avenues was closed for hours for the investigation. The road opened shortly after midnight Monday.