Traffic & Transit
Tractor-Trailer Crash Closes Everett Turnpike, Driver Severely Injured
Boston MedFlight landed in Nashua to transport a victim from the rollover crash; the leaking truck was carrying thousands of gallons of oil.
NASHUA, NH — An accident involving a rolled-over tractor-trailer seriously injured the driver, and leaking oil closed the F.E. Everett Turnpike for a period of time Monday morning.
Nashua Fire Rescue, AMR ambulance, and New Hampshire State Police responded to a report of a tractor-trailer off the right side of the turnpike at mile marker 8.2, just north of Exit 8, at about 12:50 a.m. Firefighters arrived and found a heavily damaged truck with the driver entrapped in the cab. Due to damage to the tanker portion of the truck, the truck was actively leaking oil on the ground.
Additional resources were dispatched to the scene to assist in extrication and mitigating the oil spill.
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NFR requested Boston MedFlight to land at the scene due to the serious injuries. After about 30 minutes, the driver was extricated and brought to a waiting AMR ambulance to be stabilized.
Boston MedFlight transported the victim to Lahey Hospital & Medical Center. The driver, who is not being identified at this time, suffered serious injuries.
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The preliminary on-scene investigation indicates the truck was traveling in the left lane when it lost control and ran off the road to the right. The tanker being hauled then overturned and rolled into the wood line according to state police.
The turnpike was shut down in both directions between Exit 8 and 10 so Boston MedFlight could land at the scene. After landing, the patient was loaded into the helicopter and flown to a Boston hospital with serious injuries.
Video of Boston MedFlight landing on the turnpike
According to state police, the 2021 Kenworth was hauling a tanker carrying motor oil and hydraulic fluid. The truck was loaded with various motor oils in New Jersey and was en route to a motor oil distributor in Manchester.
It was believed to have approximately 6,500 gallons at the time of the crash. Nashua firefighters worked to contain oil spilling from the trailer onto the ground and diesel from the damaged truck's saddle tanks.
After approximately an hour, the leaking oil and fuel were controlled and contained.
The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services was dispatched to assist with the leaking oil. State police Troop G, specializing in commercial vehicle enforcement, was also requested to go to the scene.
The area where the accident occurred was under construction in both directions, and several lanes were shut down due to the construction.
State police have closed the right lanes of the turnpike northbound as Bauchman’s Towing works to remove the oil from the tanker and eventually remove the truck's cab and trailer.
The contents of the trailer were pumped into a different trailer, and Nashua Fire, Bauchman Towing, and NH DES mitigated any oil that spilled from the truck.
New Hampshire State Police continues to investigate the accident. All aspects of the crash remain under investigation. Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is asked to contact Trooper Brian Knell at Brian.D.Knell@dos.nh.gov.
©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news
