Trucks collide,
plow flips
MidTown – Town of Evans NY – January 6, 2004 --- According to sources at the scene of this early morning accident, two plow/sander trucks were working eastbound around the Eden-Angola exit of the New York State Thruway when one of the trucks was struck from behind by a passing tractor-trailer.
The impact caused the large plow and sander to go off the roadway and flip over on its side up the embankment directly at the on-ramp to the eastbound Thruway.
Evans Center firefighters were dispatched around 4:30am along with Rural/Metro Paramedics. Assistant Chief Tiger Schmittendorf arrived first with Chief Bruce Green and Rural/Metro closely behind. Schmittendorf took care of operations on the Thruway down below while Green assumed command from a vantage point on the on-ramp above the accident scene.
Evans Center Engine 1 arrived and their crew went about using absorbent pads, 'pigs' and speedy-dry to stop the spread of diesel fuel that was leaking from the tractor-trailer's driver's side saddle tank. The NYS DEC-Department of Environmental Conservation was notified of the spill. Evans Center put the SouthTowns HazMat Team on alert in the event the leak could not be contained.
An estimated 30 gallons poured from the tank before Firefighter John Latimore, working with Thruway Authority personnel, was able to stop the leak by gaining access to an emergency shut-off valve. The driver of the tractor-trailer estimated that the tank contained approximately 150 gallons at the time of the crash.
Rural/Metro transported the plow driver to Lake Shore Hospital for observation. The driver of the tractor-trailer declined treatment and transportation.
Evans Center remained on location until around 6am. They were assisted by the Angola and Hamburg Fire Control Dispatch Centers, New York State Police, New York State Thruway Authority and Pinto's Towing.
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