13 June 2023 , 08:03
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The truck driver killed in a fiery crash that caused a portion of a busy highway to collapse has been named by his family.
The man, identified by family as 53-year-old Nathaniel "Nate" Moody, was exiting Philadelphia's Interstate 95, Pennsylvania, on Sunday when he lost control of the truck, according to investigators.
The truck, which was believed to be carrying around 8,500 gallons of gasoline, turned onto its side before it exploded and caused an elevated section of the 1-95 to collapse at around 6.15am.
Although police are yet to officially identify the man who was pulled from the rumble on Monday, the family of Nathaniel say they have been contacted by authorities and asked to identify the man through dental records.
Nathaniel "Nate" Moody has been described as a "good husband and father to his wife and daughter," by a grieving cousin.
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Smoke billowing from the scene (AFP via Getty Images)
Nathaniel "Nate" Moody, was exiting I-95 onto Cottman Avenue on Sunday when he lost control of the vehicle (NBC Philadelphia)Family members said he was a married father of three and an Army veteran who owned his own truck.
His cousin, Alex Moody, described him as a hardworking family man who lived in the Philadelphia area.
He told NBC10: "My cousin is a hardworking man. Family man. Good husband and father to his wife and daughter.
"We've always been cool and tight. He's very mild mannered. Calm guy. Really calm person. He gets along with everybody."
According to his family, Nate Moody was a hardworker (NBC Philadelphia)Another cousin, Isaac, told NBC10 they had been hanging out on Friday and had made plans to hang out on Father's Day.
Isaac said: "Nate and I did that handshake then we gave each other the hug and I was like, 'Alright cuz, I'll see you man. I'll talk to you such and such.' He was supposed to call me Saturday, you know? He was supposed to call me Sunday."
The collapsed section of the I-95 (City of Philadelphia Office of E)According to his family, Mr Moody had a spotless driving record and knew the route very well.
They were hopeful he would be found alive beneath the rubble until state troopers found his body.
Police say Mr Moody lost control of the vehicle while turning at the end of the exit.
The tanker flipped onto its side before splitting open and exploding.
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Philadelphia Fire Department officials working on the scene of the collapse (AP)The blaze caused the above section of the highway to collapse and recovery crews couldn't pull the trapped person out until Monday afternoon.
A dramatic video captured by a driver passing over the Philadelphia Interstate shows a section of the highway engulfed in flames after the tanker exploded just moments before the road collapsed.
One Twitter user shared footage of his wife's commute to work along I-95.
As she drives through the smoke she can be heard saying: "Oh my god, the road's falling."
Southbound lanes were also heavily damaged and later closed as the blaze made it structurally unsound.
At a press conference on Sunday afternoon, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said it would take "some number of months" to fully rebuild the road.