Sleepy driver crashes into North Branford home

NORTH BRANFORD, Conn. (WTNH) - A road had to be closed in North Branford after a vehicle hit a propane tank and crashed into a house.

The accident happened at 188 Clintonville Road.

The car went through the fence, hit the propane tank, that is in the foundation, then it continued into the house, the tank rolled and also hit the house.

The front of the green Oldsmobile is completely mangled. Tire tracks on the road show where the car struck a mailbox, then went through a fence and into a propane tank. the tank rolled about 15 feet after it was hit.  Peter Esposito was inside fixing soup when his house was hit.

"I came outside, and I saw the tank on it's side and the propane flying out, you know, whoa,' said Esposito.

A quick-thinking neighbor got him out fast.

"My buddy across the street, he grabbed me, he said, come on, you know, get out of here because that thing could blow,' said Esposito.

The driver was also being pulled out and away from the leaking propane.

"And when I saw the tank, I said get out of the car, and we all ran because the tank was leaking," said Tom Miner, witness.

It wasn't a moment too soon.

"Upon the fire department's arrival, the flammable limits were very close as being dangerous," said Chief William Seward, North Branford.

The firefighters attacked with water vapor. William said, when it escapes the container it expands, so the most serious hazard is the vapor cloud.

"Were extremely lucky that there was no flash as a result of the vapors being emitted," said William.

Three homes had to be evacuated, the road was shut down and the police called in to keep everybody back.  It took about an hour and a half, but the leak was finally capped.  The smell of propane is still very powerful in the area, and inside the home.

Esposito said, it's unbearable.  It was a 500 gallon tank that was leaking, and Esposito had just filled it up about 10 days ago. News 8 was told that the driver who caused the leak is a man in his 20's working two jobs, and he just fell asleep behind the wheel.

"I feel like my buddy Saint Anthony was watching over me," said Esposito.

No one was hurt. The accident is still under investigation.