South Main Street, near its intersection with Botsford Hill Road/State Route 25, was down to one lane of alternating traffic for approximately two hours late last week after the operator of a cargo van stopped the vehicle in front of a full size gas tanker.

Newtown Police officers; Botsford, Newtown Hook & Ladder, and Sandy Hook fire companies; and Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps were initially dispatched at 11:57 am Thursday, April 30 to the four-way intersection of South Main Street with Meadowbrook and Botsford Hill roads for the reported tanker truck vs minivan with injuries.

Newtown Police report Nicholas M. Maleton, 24, of Stratford, was operating a 2017 Ford Transit Connect XL cargo van westbound on Botsford Hill Road, approaching South Main Street.

At the same time, Wayne T. Avery, 51, of Bridgeport, was operating a 2024 Freightliner Cascadia, towing a trailer carrying 8,200 gallons of gasoline, north on South Main Street. Maleton made a left turn onto South Main Street and then stopped in the northbound travel lane.

Avery swerved to the right to avoid hitting the cargo van, but the left front of the Freightliner collided with the left front of the Ford van.

Both vehicles received disabling damage. The tanker was not damaged. Responding firefighters put down Speedi-Dri and soaker pads to stop fluids that were leaking from the engines of the vehicles. Firefighters additionally created a small barrier to prevent fluids from leaking into a nearby storm drain. They also cleared crash debris from the roadway.

Maleton was transported by Newtown Ambulance for suspected minor injuries. Avery was checked for injuries and did not need transport.

South Main Street initially had alternating lines of traffic moving past the scene. Newtown Police handled traffic and was able to open both directions of travel on South Main. Botsford Hill between its intersections with South Main and Botsford Lane was closed for approximately two hours, until the tanker was towed.

Both roads fully reopened around 1:50 pm. Maleton was issued an infraction for failure to obey a traffic signal.