Chemical Leak In Southington Tractor Trailer Sends Driver To Hospital

SOUTHINGTON, CT — The driver of a leaking tractor trailer was treated and released after state and local responders Saturday tended to the spilling of a "corrosive material" at a local truck stop.

According to the Southington Fire Department, at about 3:34 p.m. Saturday, a call was placed from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection reporting a tractor trailer was leaking "an unknown corrosive material" at the Travel Centers of America truck stop, located at 1875 Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike.

Soon, police and firefighters were dispatched to the site to tend to the situation, the SFD said.

In addition, DEEP officials and workers for Environmental Services Inc., an emergency clean-up contractor, were called to the scene.

Firefighters said workers immediately created a 150-foot "isolation area" to prevent any additional exposure to the substance.

In addition, an American Medical Response Ambulance was called to the scene to help with the truck's operator, who was transported to St. Mary's Hospital in Waterbury, where he was treated and released.

Aiding in the operation, firefighters said, were fire departments from Plainville, Berlin and Cheshire, which covered Southington stations.

Later, the SFD said, Cheshire responders assisted on the scene and Southington police provided traffic control measures.

Firefighters said the truck was, eventually, off-loaded to the contactor's truck and Nelcon towing was utilized to move several tractor trailers "that were impeding access to the leaking trailer."

Ultimately, no firefighters were injured and the department said the scene was cleared by 11:14 p.m. Saturday.

For the Southington Fire Department's Facebook page, click on this link.