Published: October 18, 2009 10:38 pm      

10/19 - Brake failure caused crash, fuel spill on I-68

Brake failure caused crash, fuel spill on I-68

CUMBERLAND — Police said the closure of eastbound Interstate 68 for three hours Saturday night was caused by brake failure of one of two tractor-trailers involved.

An Allegany County Bureau of Police report said James V. Keene, 61, of Pocatello, Idaho, attempted to slow his 1997 Volvo tractor as he noticed traffic was slowing to a stop. His brakes failed, police said, causing him to collide with a 1994 International tractor driven by Scott Harris, 55, of Yarmouth, Maine.

The collision caused “severe damage to both vehicles,” police said, and ruptured both fuel tanks and causing “a large amount of fuel to spill onto the roadway.”

The county police agency was assisted by Cumberland Police Department, Maryland State Police, Allegany County HazMat, Cumberland Fire Department, LaVale Volunteer Fire Department and the Allegany County Sheriff’s Fire Police Association.

Despite initial reports, no one was injured in the incident. Keene was charged with failure to reduce speed to avoid a collision.