Lengthy Extrication Follows Three-Truck I-84 Snowstorm Accident

By Andrew Gorosko

Local firefighters joined forces in a snowstorm early on the morning of January 12 to extricate a trapped man from a pickup truck, which was involved in a serious accident with two tractor-trailer trucks on westbound Interstate 84, near Exit 9 in Hawleyville.

Hawleyville and Newtown Hook & Ladder firefighters performed a lengthy extrication to free William Lewin, 55, of Land O’ Lakes, Fla., from the GMC pickup truck. Firefighters had to take apart the truck’s cab to free Mr Lewin, after which he was transported to Danbury Hospital for treatment of leg and abdominal injuries, according to state police. Mr Lewin was reported in good condition there on the morning of January 13.

Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps members also transported GMC pickup truck passenger Carolyne Eastman, 49, of LaGrange, Maine, to the hospital for treatment of chest injuries.  Ms Eastman was reported in good condition in the hospital on the morning of January 13.

State police learned of the accident at 11:58 pm on January 11, at a time when road conditions were very hazardous due to a snowstorm.

The extrication resulted in the westbound lanes of the highway, between Exits 10 and 9, being closed to traffic for about one hour.

State police said a westbound tractor-trailer truck driven by Don Sanevilay, 36, of Kansas City, Kan., moved evasively in order to avoid striking another tractor-trailer truck, which was sliding on the slippery road.

After avoiding contact with that unidentified vehicle, Sanevilay’s truck was struck from behind by a westbound tandem tractor-trailer truck driven by Henry Bennett, 60, of Weare, N.H., who had tried to avoid a colliding with Sanevilay’s truck, state police said.

Bennett’s tandem-trailer unit then jackknifed, and went onto the highway’s median.

Westbound motorist Lewin, who was driving the GMC pickup, which was hauling a trailer, then braked to avoid a collision, but drove into Bennett’s truck, state police said.

Sanevilay and Bennett were not injured. Bennett’s truck was heavily damaged.

Following his lengthy extrication from the heavily damaged pickup truck by firefighters, Lewin was transported for medical treatment.

State police cited Bennett and Lewin for traveling too fast for conditions.