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STATE OF CONNECTICUT Department of Public Safety 1111 Country Club Road Middletown, Connecticut 06457 |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 12, 2011 |
Gasoline Tanker Truck vs. Guardrail Accident
On 09/12/11 at approximately 4:45 a.m., a 2007 Kenworth Tractor owned by Costal Carriers of 14 Riverside Dr., Ansonia CT, was towing a gasoline tanker containing 8800 gals of fuel on Route 8 northbound, on the Thomaston/Litchfield Line.
The tanker traveled off the right shoulder striking the guardrail and continued northbound traveling through the guardrail and rolled down an embankment coming to rest upside down. The operator was identified as Andrew Pitt, DOB: 10/08/84, of Bridgeport. The operator was transported to Charlotte Hungerford Hospital with minor injuries.
Route 8 remains closed due to a large gasoline spill. Fire Services are applying foam and managing gas spill.
State Police, State Police Truck Squad, Local Fire Departments (Thomaston, Northfield, East Litchfield, Torrington, Litchfield, Morris, Waterbury, Danbury, Winsted, Harwinton, Bantam, and Watertown), and DEP HAZ MAT are also on scene.
In this area, there are no residential houses in the immediate area. But the area does fall in the area of the Naugatuck River.
Accident investigation is continuing by the State Police Truck squad and State Police Troop L accident investigators.
**UPDATE ** : State Police have determined that 5,000 gallons of gasoline spilled from the tanker and contaminated the surrounding soil. The contaminated soil must be removed from the site and that removal process is expected to take 24 hours. State Police estimate that Route 8 Northbound will be closed until approximately 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 13. Detours will be in place and all motorists are advised to seek alternate routes during the cleanup.
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Lt. J. Paul Vance