Posted: Tuesday, September 14, 2010 7:40 pm

Updated: 11:53 pm, Tue Sep 14, 2010.

By Kim Burgess HJNew.com

A semi truck carrying bananas exploded at about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, sending intense flames into the air and disrupting traffic but causing no major injuries.

Witnesses say the semi was traveling north on State Road 165 through the 1200 South intersection when the driver ran a red light, causing his truck to hit several vehicles and a power pole before flipping over and catching on fire from its own leaking diesel fuel. The truck landed on the east side of the highway in front of the Maverik and Jiffy Lube.

According to Lt. Lee Perry of the Utah Highway Patrol, the crash involved a total of eight vehicles and 14 people. Two individuals were transported by ambulance to Logan Regional Hospital with minor injuries, including the semi driver, who got out of the truck before the explosion. Police believe others, who declined medical attention at the scene, may have gone to the hospital on their own.

Power was out in the area and traffic was restricted for several hours, with the road closure extending from the intersection near Maverik to the "Y" at about 800 S. Main St. in Logan. Perry said he expected the clean-up effort would last through the night, requiring a hazardous materials team to dispose of the leaked diesel.

In total, three law enforcement agencies and two fire departments responded with Highway Patrol taking the lead because the accident began on Providence's side of the border with Logan.

Troopers will continue investigating what happened and plan to look at video footage recorded by the nearby Macey's supermarket.

"We do have a pretty good witness at this point, somebody who stopped for the red light and the semi truck went past him," Perry said.

He had no estimate of damages, but thinks it will likely turn out to be "a pretty expensive crash."

Still, several of the people involved said they are just happy no one was badly hurt.

"It sucks, but I'm glad he (the driver) is OK," said Mysti Knight, who was working at the Maverik and saw the semi crush her parked 1994 Chevrolet Caprice Classic.

Knight immediately turned off the pumps' gas lines and walked outside the darkened store, which had lost power.

On the other side of the road, Ashley Tarinelli and her family had had a close call.

Her 2007 Nissan Sentra was hit by a minivan that spun into her path after the semi truck slammed into it. Tarinelli's daughter and two brothers were in the car, but no was injured.

"It happened really fast," she said. "Suddenly everything caught on fire."