GRANITEVILLE, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - In less than 24 hours after a fuel truck crashed under the Old Vaucluse Road overpass, causing the bridge to collapse, the South Carolina Department of Transportation and crews were able to reopen I-20 between exits 11 and 18.

According to the South Carolina Department of Transportation, crews worked overnight to demolish and remove the bridge structure damaged during the incident. Officials say they then worked on the next phase of the process, which included milling and repaving the damaged sections of I-20, as well as replacing the guardrails, which were completed Sunday afternoon.

I-20 was closed for miles because of the collapse of the overpass.

The bridge structure was removed less than 24 hours after a fuel truck crashed under the bridge early Saturday and erupted into flames on the interstate, bringing down the overpass.

Crews repaired the damaged road and reopened the interstate within 36 hours of the incident happening.

Amazingly, injuries were only minor, but the bridge was a total loss.

Firefighters said the truck carrying 8,500 gallons of gasoline was traveling east when the crash happened around 4 a.m. Saturday, sending huge flames into the sky.

The Old Vaucluse Road overpass was already compromised after the crash, authorities said, but the fire was too much for it to handle, and it collapsed onto the interstate.

I-20 had to be shut down in both directions between Bettis Academy Road and Edgefield Highway until late Sunday afternoon.

PHOTO GALLERY: AIKEN COUNTY BRIDGE COLLAPSE

It will take months for the bridge to be rebuilt.

The full sequence of events in the accident remains under investigation, and authorities said they weren’t ready to discuss those details.

Two people were taken to a hospital for treatment of their injuries. The status of their injuries wasn’t known, but there were fortunately no deaths, authorities emphasized.

Charles Kneece, GVW Fire Department chief, said 35 personnel with nine fire departments battled the flames.

The GVW, Sage Mill, Center, Langley, Eureka, Trenton, Merriwether and Belvedere fire departments, as well as the South Carolina Highway Patrol, Aiken County Sheriff’s Office, Aiken County EMA, Aiken County EMS and Aiken County dispatch all assisted in this incident.

“We used roughly about 10,000 gallons of water to extinguish the fire,” said Kneece.

Officials say they are working as quickly and safely as possible to reopen the interstate.

The whole episode is reminiscent of what happened just over a month ago at I-20 and Columbia Highway in Aiken County. A tanker carrying a highly flammable liquid crashed under a bridge, and although no fire erupted, the chemical spill shut down I-20 for hours.

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