A tanker carrying about 9,000 gallons of gasoline overturned in a traffic circle and burned into flames early this morning in Everett, near Boston, razing at least 2 multifamily homes and as many as 40 cars.

According to officials, there were no immediate reports of serious injuries. Almost 200 residents from the buildings on Main Street and from a nearby 80-unit housing complex for the elderly were evacuated immediately to the Whittier school. After determining that fuel had leaked into the sewer system nearby, authorities relocated the evacuees to the Everett armory.

“They did a tremendous job keeping the fire out of that apartment building. It could have been much worse,” Everett Fire Chief David Butler said.

According to Butler, as many as 40 cars caught fire after the accident, which happened at about 1:45 a.m. at the traffic circle connecting Routes 16 and 99 north off Boston.

The tanker was destroyed in the fire, but the driver was able to escape according to the state police. Lieutenant Jim Gabriel of the Everett Police Department said that the driver walked away from the accident scene, according to the Boston Globe.

Officials also said they were investigating the cause of the accident blaming the speed of the truck.

"We do have a witness that indicated that the truck was traveling at an excessive rate of speed," said Maj. Kevin Kelly, according to the Associated Press.

Kelly said that the driver had lost control of the tanker, flipped over and struck a guardrail.

Main Street, which is also Route 99, was blocked off as firefighters and investigators completed their work.