South Main Traffic Snagged For Hours—

Sedan Collides With Tractor-Trailer Truck

By Andrew Gorosko

An accident involving a tractor-trailer truck and a sedan midday on Friday, July 13, sent both drivers to the hospital for treatment of injuries and closed a section of busy South Main Street (Route 25) to traffic for about four hours, as police investigated the collision and workers cleared away the scattered wreckage.

The 11:57 am crash involved a 2005 Freightliner M-2 tractor-trailer truck traveling southward, just south of South Main Street’s intersection with Cold Spring Road, and a 2000 Chrysler 300-M sedan traveling northward there, police said.

Police said that northbound Chrysler driver David M. Johnston, 24, of 55 Copper Creek Circle, Riverview Condominiums, crossed over onto the road’s southbound lane, after which the left front end of the Chrysler struck the left side of the truck’s cab.

Ernest B. Hulse, 64, of North Branford was driving the truck, which is owned by R&R Freight Services of West Haven.

After the impact, the heavily damaged Chrysler spun around and came to rest in the northbound lane, facing westward. The truck jackknifed and remained in the southbound lane in front of Buzz’s Mobil, a gas station at 286 South Main Street.

Botsford and Newtown Hook & Ladder fire crews responded to the accident. The Botsford Firehouse is located about 1,500 feet south of the crash scene.

Botsford Fire Chief Wayne Ciaccia, the incident commander, said Botsford firefighters spent about 25 minutes extricating Mr Johnston from the Chrysler wreckage. They used hydraulic-powered tools including spreaders, cutters, and a ram to open up the Chrysler, removing its two left-side doors and a roof pillar to free Mr Johnston from the wreckage. The driver had become pinned inside the wreckage, Chief Ciaccia said. Firefighters worked carefully because the driver was in much pain, Chief Ciaccia said.

Mr Hulse was not trapped in the tractor-trailer truck, which was not carrying a cargo, police said.

Both motorists were transported by Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps members to Danbury Hospital for treatment of injuries. Mr Johnston was admitted as a patient and was in good condition on the afternoon of Wednesday, July 18, a hospital spokeswoman said. Mr Hulse was treated and released on July 13.

At the accident scene, fire firefighters spread absorbent materials over spilled automotive fluids near the sedan and truck.

About 25 gallons of diesel fuel contained in one of the truck’s fuel tanks spilled onto the ground, Chief Ciaccia said. Firefighters isolated the spilled fuel so that it could be safely removed from the crash site. 

A state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) inspector was called to the scene to supervise the removal of remaining fuel in the truck before it was towed away. The impact of the collision had damaged the fuel tank that was mounted beneath the truck’s cab.

The collision closed a normally busy section of South Main Street to traffic for about four hours, with police detouring traffic onto nearby roads to avoid the accident scene.

Traffic resumed flowing through the area at about 4 pm, at the start of the Friday afternoon rush period. 

Police said the accident remains under investigation, with Officer Todd Dingee investigating.