Tanker truck crashes on Route 18 in Franklin Township
The state Department of Environmental Protection is investigating whether there was any impact to Browns Creek after a tanker truck believed to be carrying wastewater crashed on Route 18 in Franklin Township and the rig rolled over into a field near the stream Sunday night.
The driver, who was not identified, suffered serious injuries in the crash about 7:45 p.m. when he failed to negotiate a curve near Pisgah Ridge Road about three miles northwest of Waynesburg and crashed through a guardrail before the rig came to rest on its side between the road and Browns Creek, Waynesburg-Franklin Township fire Chief Jeff Marshall said.
The driver had to be removed from the vehicle and was flown by medical helicopter to an area hospital for treatment, Marshall. His condition was not immediately known and state police said Monday they did not have a report on the crash.
Marshall said the tanker contained production water from a nearby natural gas well site and some of it leaked from the vehicle.
Firefighters contacted the state Department of Environmental Protection as a precautionary measure because of the crash’s proximity to Browns Creek, Marshall said.
DEP spokesman John Poister said Greene County Emergency Management crews handled the situation at the scene Sunday night. The tanker was from Interstate Trucking of New Eagle, a contractor for EQT, and the company brought another tanker to transfer the water, Poister said.
Poister said DEP workers went to the scene Monday to inspect the site and see “what if any impact there was from the accident.” He said 100 gallons of water leaked from the tanker, but they were still working to confirm whether it was brine water or fresh water. He did not know if it reached the waterway, but said soil at crash site was excavated and removed.
“We don’t think it’s a tremendous environmental issue, but we’re going to monitor it to make sure,” Poister said.
Crews will continue to inspect the nearby stream to see if there was any impact to aquatic life or vegetation, he said.
Route 18 between Sycamore and Waynesburg was closed Sunday night while state police investigated and crews removed the wreckage.