DETROIT -- Interstate 75 has reopened in all directions after a tanker crash and explosion on the freeway. The right two northbound lanes are still closed.

A liquid propane tanker exploded Thursday morning and took out a section of northbound Interstate 75 near Outer Drive as it plunged over the guardrail, setting a home on fire, melting a nearby school playground and killing the driver.

Slideshow: Scene Of The Tanker Explosion

"The cab flipped over the guardrail and snapped off from the rest of the truck," said motorist Robert Griffin.

The driver, identified as Ronald A. Martinez, of Albion, was killed in the crash, Michigan State Police Lt. Monica Yesh said.

Martinez, 60, worked for Aero Bulk Carrier of Grand Rapids. He was hauling about 7,200 gallons of butane from Pennsylvania to Sarnia, Ontario, company vice president Hubert Blough said.

It was about 8:15 a.m. when the truck veered into a cement barrier wall, Michigan State Police said in a statement. Its fuel tank ruptured and was ignited by sparks as the tanker continued along the wall.

The tanker then careened over the wall and exploded. Butane spilled onto nearby homes, a playground and a community center, state police said.

Flames from the crash shot dozens of feet into the air.

The cab of the truck became lodged on the freeway barrier, which prevented it from toppling over the edge, she said. Martinez's body was found in the cab of the truck on the freeway surface, Yesh said.

The cause of the crash was under investigation. "None of the witnesses said the truck swerved," Yesh said.

"There are no skid marks, which usually indicates a medical emergency somewhere along the line."

Martinez had no adverse medical history, police said.

A medical examiner on Friday said Martinez died in the crash and did not have a medical emergency as investigators once thought.

Investigators are looking into the possibility that Martinez had a flat tire.

Commercial drivers told Local 4 that they heard Martinez saying over the citizens' band radio that he was going to pull over at the Clark Road exit, just a few exits north, to investigate a possible flat tire.

Investigators said the tires were so charred, they may never know for sure.

Investigators are also waiting for a toxicology report.

Latasha Davis and her three children, ages 12, 14 and 16, were inside the home, which was about 100 feet away from where the tanker landed. Davis said she heard a loud noise, saw the flames and got her three children out of the home.

"When I was laying down, the flame came through my window," said Davis.

The home was engulfed within 10 to 20 minutes, she said.

They were not injured.

Many other homes in the area suffered quite a bit of damage.

Juan Munoz, 12, and his family were sleeping when their home caught fire.

Munoz told Local 4, "I was kind of scared for my brothers and sisters who were crying."

"The siding of our house is kind of melted, and the house in front of us is completely burned down," said Munoz.

State transportation officials spent hours inspecting the bridge's steel support beams and concrete pillars following the crash.

"There was severe structural damage, more so to the concrete pillars that hold the bridge up, and not necessarily to the steel," said Department of Transportation spokesman Rob Morosi.

MDot said they will have to determine the full extent of the damage and it will be at least several weeks until the two northbound lanes of I-75 near Outer Drive reopen.

City Officials Asses Bridge Damage After Tanker Explosion

Local 4 Learns More About Driver Of Tanker