CALDECOTT TUNNEL BLAST KILLS SEVEN Audit Bureau of Circulation OAKLAND CIRCULATION Oakland Tribune GREATER TRIBUNE/TODAY 213,045 EDITION A Gannett Newspaper Wednesday, April 7, 1982/Oakland, California Home delivery $8 a month Flaming gasoline tanker burns with incredible heat after overturning inside the north bore of the Caldecott Tunnel. Copyright 1982 Oakland Tribune by Robert Stinnett Bus-tanker crash Tribune photo by Bill Crouch Puddle of barely recognizable slag is all that remains of burned gasoline tanker. sparks By Mike Libbey Tribune Staff Writer A gasoline tanker was struck by an empty AC Transit bus and exploded inside one of the Caldecott Tunnel's three bores early today, creating a blowtorch of heat that killed seven people and closed the entire tunnel for more than four hours. Although two bores were reopened in time for the morning commute, the seared north bore was so badly damaged it will take at least two or three weeks to repair, according to engineers. The extent of the disaster immediately led safety agencies to send teams of investigators to probe the cause. Seven agents of the National Transportation Safety Board were flying t to Oakland tonight, six from Washington, D.C., and one from Los Angeles. The California Highway Patrol had five experts from a special investigation team on the scene today, working with sophisticated electronic equipment. "It looks like something out of World War II in there," said Jim Mattos, CHP public affairs officer. "It was total destruction," said Oakland Assistant Fire Chief Bob McGue. The incredible heat in the enclosed bore 34½ feet wide and 17 feet high created a "giant oven," said Tim Miller, an employee of the state Department of Transportation. About 8,800 gallons of burning premium and unleaded gasoline Reporter describes disaster scene inside the tunnel, A-2. There has been a tunnel through hills since 1903, A-3. caused a blowtorch effect that forced searing smoke uphill toward the bore's Orinda end, as if up a chimney, said Alameda County coroner's deputy Joe Blackwell. Motorists following the tanker when it overturned at 12:20 a.m., blocking the two-lane. roadway, were trying to back out of the bore when leaking gas exploded into flames. Within seconds, a wall of black smoke came roaring in their direction. - Some motorists were able to See TUNNEL, Back Page