Fuel truck crashes in Avon
(George Rizer/Globe Staff)
By Globe Staff
A truck carrying about 400 gallons of diesel fuel crashed on Route 24 in Avon early today when it swerved to avoid another vehicle and hit the median, state officials said. The crash, which occurred just before 5 a.m. near Exit 19, triggered a chain reaction that caused two other collisions, said Sergeant Timothy Finn, a State Police spokesman.
The driver of the fuel truck suffered minor injuries when he crashed into the concrete Jersey barrier dividing the north and southbound lanes. The truck came to rest straddling the median and blocking or slowing traffic for miles in both directions, Finn said. Moments later, a northbound Dodge Caravan hit the truck, spun into the breakdown lane, and rammed another vehicle that had stopped to help. The driver of the Caravan also suffered minor injuries, Finn said. The crash remains under investigation.
Ed Colletta, spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection, said none of the truck's cargo spilled; but about 30 gallons leaked from the saddle tanks, which run the tanker. That impacted a few catch basins but caused no major environmental concern, Colletta said.
