Date: Fri 15-Mar-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

accident-84-diesel-fuel-spill

Full Text:

I-84 Truck Accident Spills Diesel Fuel

State police report a tractor-trailer truck accident on westbound

Interstate-84 about 10 pm March 10 in which about 250 gallons of diesel fuel

spilled from the truck's smashed fuel tanks.

State police said trucker Robert F. Jandrow, 47, of Charlton, Mass., was

driving a 1989 Freightliner truck westbound when the vehicle drifted off the

right side of the roadway. The accident occurred at the point where the

westbound Exit 11 off-ramp begins, just east of the Philo Curtis Road

overpass.

The truck struck and knocked down 279 feet of guardrailing, as well as a

highway streetlight, state police said.

After colliding with the objects, the truck continued westward, with the

trailer section going down an embankment, nearly causing the entire

tractor-trailer unit to roll over, state police said.

In the crash, the tractor's two saddlebag-style fuel tanks ruptured after

hitting the guardrail posts. The tanks leaked an estimated 250 gallons of

diesel fuel onto the ground, state police said.

The tractor became entangled in guardrailing and cabling, bringing the

hurtling truck to a stop.

Jandrow wasn't injured in the accident, according to state police. State

police said he told them a motorist had cut him off, causing the crash. The

trucker had a log book violation, state police said.

Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company Chief William Halstead said Sandy

Hook firefighters were called to the scene to handle the diesel fuel spill.

After flowing out of the fuel tanks, the diesel fuel drained down an

embankment toward a brook, he said. Firefighters placed oil booms in the brook

to prevent the fuel from entering the water, he said.

A state Department of Environmental Protection oil spill inspector went the

accident to supervise cleanup work. American Environmental Technologies of

Bethel also went to the oil spill scene for cleanup duties.

Sandy Hook firefighters were at the accident for about 90 minutes, Chief

Halstead said.

Twenty-seven firefighters either went to the scene or went to the Sandy Hook

Firehouse to stand by, he said.