Sunday, April 5, 2015

WESTPORT, MASSACHUSETTS TRUCK DRIVER CHARGED IN BOURNE ROTARY 5,000 GALLON GASOLINE SPILL






MARCH 30, 2015

BOURNE, MASSACHUSETTS

The Westport driver of a gasoline tanker truck that crashed and spilled 5,000 gallons of fuel at the Bourne Rotary last week will be charged with three motor vehicle offenses, according to Massachusetts State Police spokesman David Procopio.

Thomas Medeiros, 47, of Westport, will appear in Falmouth District Court to answer charges of negligent operation of a motor vehicle, operating at a speed greater than reasonable and proper, and failure to stay within marked lanes, according to a statement released by Procopio. 

The charges are the result of an investigation conducted by the Massachusetts State Police barracks in Bourne, in conjunction with the State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section, according to the statement.

A court date for Medeiros has not yet been scheduled.


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GASOLINE TRUCK SPILLS 5,500 GALLONS ON BOURNE ROTARY IN MASSACHUSETTS. WESTPORT DRIVER TREATED FOR INJURIES IN CRASH, WAREHAM SHELLFISH BEDS CLOSED


Crews work to clean up spilled gasoline in the aftermath of Tuesday night's tanker-truck rollover at the Bourne Bridge rotary. Gasoline from the spill may have reached the Cape Cod Canal, which prompted Wareham officials to close some of the town's shellfish beds. Cape Cod Times/Steve Heaslip

MARCH 25, 2015

BOURNE, MASSACHUSETTS

Cleanup crews worked into the afternoon today after a gasoline tanker rolled over at the Bourne Rotary late last night, spilling 5,500 gallons of gas, some of which may have drained into the Cape Cod Canal.

Bourne Bridge and the rotary were closed after the 11 p.m. accident yesterday and reopened at 9:15 this morning.

The truck's driver was identified by state police as Thomas B. Medeiros, 47, of Westport. He was initially trapped in the tanker truck, but was extricated and transported to Tobey Hospital in Wareham with minor injuries, state police said in a statement.

A preliminary investigation indicates the truck, which was carrying 11,500 gallons of gasoline, was traveling south over the Bourne Bridge toward the rotary, state police said. But as the truck entered the rotary it continued straight, rather than making a turn, jumped the curb and hit an embankment in the rotary.

Responding firefighters found the tanker on its side in front of the "Cape Cod" topiary in the middle of the rotary, Bourne Deputy Fire Chief Joseph Carrera said.

There were three active leaks in the tanker, and gasoline was spewing out under pressure, Carrera said.

The driver said the gasoline was in five separate containers and that it was full, according to Carrera. The hope was that not every container had ruptured, he added.

The truck cab is owned by TBM Trucking of Westport, which is the same address as Medeiros', state police said. The tanker is owned by D.J. Cronin Inc. of Seekonk.

A hazardous materials team responded at about midnight and laid foam down on the road to eliminate vapors to reduce the risk of an explosion, Carrera said. They cut holes in the tanker and used vacuum trucks to suck out the remaining gas.

In total, about 6,000 gallons was recovered, which means 5,500 gallons was spilled, Carrera said. Gas leaked into nearby storm drains, which lead eventually to the Cape Cod Canal, he said.

Late this morning the area smelled heavily of gasoline and Coast Guard officials were on the scene monitoring any gas that might have made its way to the canal.

The threat of spilled fuel making its way into the canal prompted Wareham to close shellfishing beds.

Wareham Harbormaster Garry Buckminster posted the following notice on the town's website today.

"Effective immediately all shellfishing within Onset Harbor, Buttermilk Bay, Sunset Cove, Agawam Beach, East River, Broad Cove, Fisherman's Cove and Butlers Cove has been closed to shellfishing due to the fuel tanker accident that took place in the Town of Bourne last night. The Wareham River portion of town is not affected by this incident."

 In Bourne, environmental crews were digging up and removing contaminated soil from the site, State Police said. About 80 people responded to the scene, Carrera said.