Published: March 17, 2009 08:18 am      

Truck driver escapes injury

Load, diesel fuel spills into waterway

LONACONING — A Clise Coal Co. truck traveled off state Route 36 and into Georges Creek, dumping its load and diesel fuel into the narrow waterway. The driver apparently was not injured.

The incident occurred at about 8:20 a.m., and was first reported by a passerby who dialed 911 to the Allegany County 911 Joint Communications Division.

Richard B. Haines, 47, of Rawlings, the driver of the truck, refused medical treatment at the scene.

Maryland State Police Tfc. J. Cook reported Haines was operating the truck northbound on Route 36 when it traveled off the roadway, through the guardrails and into the creek.

Haines was cited as being at fault in the mishap, according to a spokesman at the Cumberland barrack. Details of specific citation were not available.

By 2:30 p.m., the truck had been removed from the creek where it had landed on its side, dumping its load of coal and an undetermined amount of diesel fuel into the water.

The Allegany County Hazardous Incident Response Team, Maryland Department of Environment personnel, Maryland Emergency Management Agency, State Highway Administration and Allegany County Fire Police responded to the scene.

More than 70 volunteer firefighters from Good Will, Barton, Midland and Westernport responded to the scene along with a Georges Creek ambulance.

Guardrail was removed from the underside of the truck before it was pulled out of the creek.

First-responders constructed temporary dams at the scene and downstream near Pekin to isolate contamination of the creek.

The Maryland State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division inspected the truck as part of the investigation.

The incident apparently did not cause any disruption of school activities at the nearby Westmar Middle School.