Asphalt spills in rollover crash in Hawley
Published: 08-07-2024 3:42 PM
Modified: 08-07-2024 6:17 PM |
HAWLEY — The driver of a 10-wheel dump truck escaped serious injuries on Wednesday morning after his vehicle rolled over in the area of the hairpin turn on East Hawley Road, dumping a load of asphalt onto the roadway that also spilled into Bozrah Brook.
The Hawley Fire Department was dispatched to the crash shortly before 10:30 a.m. Massachusetts State Police and Shelburne Falls EMS also responded.
Firefighter Hussain Hamdan said the driver was heading south toward Grout Road when he lost control of the truck, spilling the load of asphalt that he was bringing to a construction site nearby where a New York company is paving a driveway.
The driver was transported to the hospital for evaluation, but was able to self-extricate and was waiting outside the vehicle when crews arrived, according to Fire Chief Greg Cox. Red’s Towing, Recovery & Transport Inc. of West Springfield removed the dump truck, but as of 2:30 p.m. there was still asphalt at the location.
Cox noted a state Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) crew was brought in to advise on what to do about the spilled asphalt. Some asphalt did spill into the water at Bozrah Brook, and Hamdan said responders wanted to be careful to negate any impacts on the environment.
Cox said MassDEP determined that the spilled asphalt was not releasing any harmful liquids into the water, but the asphalt would need to be removed. MassDEP crews removed some of the debris with hand tools, but the remaining asphalt is expected to be removed by the paving company on Thursday.
While Massachusetts State Police are investigating the cause of the rollover, Cox said he wants to remind drivers to drive slowly and carefully on East Hawley Road.
“It’s a very unforgiving road,” Cox said, adding that warning signs and reminders that the speed limit is 15 mph are posted about half a mile from the hairpin turn.
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Efforts to reach State Police on Wednesday for more information were unsuccessful by press time.