|
Read News
|
Pocono News Section
Sewage truck rollover
Sewage truck rollover - Thursday, March 6, 2008 at 5:39PM EST
Thursday, Mar 6, 2008 @05:39pm EST
A stinky mess along interstate 80 in Luzerne county.
Thousands of gallons of raw sewage spilled when a truck wrecked early Thursday morning.
A big rig sat at the bottom of an embankment on interstate 80 in Dennison Township.
It was hauling sewage, and much of it leaked out.
Steve Bekanich of Luzerne county emergency management agency says, "We have about five to fifty-five hundred gallons on raw human waste that is now currently on the side of the highway. So we're working on trying to get this mess cleaned up."
The truck was carrying waste from the great wolf lodge in the Poconos to a Hazleton treatment plant.
The driver lost control, and smashed through a guide rail.
He was flown to an area hospital.
Now crews are trying to keep the sewage from seeping into nearby waterways.
Mike Dotter of the White Haven Fire Department says, "The tank ruptured, and trying to contain it to one area. Trying to keep it from going in the storm drains."
The department of environmental protection was called in as well.
It's workers say the closest body of water, besides small creeks, is beach mountain lake.
But the DEP says everything looks safe so far.
The company towing the truck will line the crash scene with lime.
That will help the sewage dissolve.
DEP spokesman Mark Carmen "There was a lot of saturated soil up in that area of the interstate from the recent rains. That may help environmentally, but the contractor still going to have to remove the material and then lime that whole area."
The DEP also says it will take water quality tests the rest of the week, to make sure the area is safe.
Cars had to take a detour around the wreckage this morning..
But all lanes on I-80 are back open. | | |
|
|
|