Travel Delays—

Truck Rolls Down Median Embankment On I-84

By Andrew Gorosko

A commercial truck that was hauling an empty trailer on westbound Interstate 84 on the afternoon of Sunday, June 5, traveled off the left side of the road and went down an embankment, coming to rest about 50 feet a down a slope, where rescuers helped the injured truck driver get out of the vehicle.

The truck came to rest down the slope on the highway’s median divider, resulting in a partial closure of the westbound lanes, causing extensive travel delays in the area.

The accident occurred on the section of westbound I-84 lying east of Exit 11. In that area, there is a steep slope on the median, with the westbound lanes positioned much higher than the eastbound lanes.

State police said that Gary Dean, 48, of Harrisburg, Ill., who was driving a six-wheel 2011 International utility-style truck westward on I-84 at about 3:53 pm, was in the right lane of three lanes, when he fell asleep at the wheel and then lost control of the vehicle, causing it to cross the width of the highway and drive off the left road shoulder.

The truck then broke through steel guardcabling and traveled down an embankment, striking some trees as it rolled down the slope, slowing its descent.

 The truck was towing a trailer that normally would be used to haul utility poles, but the trailer had no cargo on it.

About 18 Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company members responded to the accident scene.

Sandy Hook Fire Chief Bill Halstead said that although the spot where the truck landed was a difficult location in terms of access, firefighters had a relatively simple time in getting Dean out of the truck, which was lying on its side in a stable position. Dean was conscious and alert, Chief Halstead said.

Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps members transported Dean to Danbury Hospital for treatment of minor injuries including back pain, state police said.

Firefighters encountered fewer than five gallons of spilled automotive fluids, mostly motor oil and some hydraulic fluid, which had leaked out of the truck, the fire chief said. The firefighters isolated those fluids to keep them from entering waterways, he said.

Firefighters had needed to cut down some trees to get access to the flipped truck, the fire chief said.

Workers from the state Department of Environmental Protection oversaw the automotive fluids cleanup work, he said. The truck’s automotive fluid tanks needed to be pumped out before the truck could be moved. The truck is registered to an Indianapolis rental firm.

Also, state Department of Transportation workers went to the scene to aid in getting the accident cleared and to replace the damaged guardcabling atop the steep slope.

Firefighters returned to the accident scene about 9 pm on June 5 to provide lighting for the cleanup work.

State police said they issued Dean an infraction ticket on charges of failure to maintain the proper travel lane and also operating a vehicle without a commercial driver’s license.