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.