Thursday, February 5, 2015

COLLISION INVOLVING A CHURCH OIL COMPANY TRUCK AND A CAR SENDS 2 DRIVERS TO HOSPITAL IN PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK





 COLLISION INVOLVING A CHURCH OIL COMPANY TRUCK AND A CAR SENDS 2 DRIVERS TO HOSPITAL IN PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK

 February 4, 2015

Plattsburgh, New York

Two New York drivers are in the hospital, and one busy intersection was shut down after a major wreck in Plattsburgh Wednesday.

Early Wednesday afternoon, authorities say a car turning onto Route 374 from Wallace Hill Road in Plattsburgh collided with an oil truck.  The truck driver tried to avoid the crash, but couldn't and flipped entirely upside down.

Both drivers were taken to the hospital, but it is unknown at this time what physical condition they are in.

Clinton County Emergency Services Director Eric Day says that emergency responders struggled to get one passenger out from the car.

"The fire department had to do an extraction, the individual was initially reported as trapped in the vehicle," said Day.

Once out, the passenger was rushed to the hospital.

The District 3 Fire Department, other first responders and road crews spent hours dealing with fuel leaking from the Church Oil Company truck that was carrying home heating oil.

"Workers from the highway department came down, and were able to spread some sand around and with the highway department and the fire department working together they were able to build a berm around pretty quickly and contain some of the leaking material," said Day.

Day says workers pumped 2,500 gallons of fuel and oil out of the truck before attempting to move the vehicle. Several tow trucks were needed to flip the truck back on its wheels. The road reopened Wednesday evening.