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Officials: 50,000 Gallons Of Fuel Lost

Thursday, October 9, 2003 – updated: 5:49 pm EDT October 9, 2003

An out-of-control truck driven by a Charlotte man hit a fueling station Wednesday afternoon. It sparked a fire that firefighters worked for hours to put out and an explosion.

Rock Hill police say Marion McIlwain apparently lost control of his 1998 Dodge Ram pickup truck at about 4 p.m. The truck struck a fueling station and caught fire.

Investigators say McIlwain is diabetic and was suffering from low blood sugar.

Between four and nine employees were at the station when the accident occurred. One worker pulled McIlwain from his truck and moved him to safety, and he was later seen sitting down and crying, holding his head in his hands.

There were no reports of injuries at Culp Petroleum, where firefighters sprayed fuel tanks to keep flames from spreading.

Hazardous materials crews are on scene using machinery to remove petroleum from the ground.

Officials say it will take several days to complete the cleanup.

The Environmental Protection Agency said there is no risk for area water contamination.

Officials say 50,000 gallons of fuel sprayed from tanks as a result of the fire.

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