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.