Water Testing After Crash Of Truck Carrying Pesticides: Officials

NORTH STONINGTON, CT — A firey tractor trailer crash that shut down I-95 North Tuesday afternoon in North Stonington has led to health and town officials to announce the truck was carrying herbicides and pesticides.

State environmental officials are assessing the possible effects on surface and groundwater, including assessing water quality in the Pawcatuck River and its tributaries.

The truck was traveling northbound when it crashed into the bridge over Route 49. It caught fire and was extinguished. Connecticut State Police Troop E said it was around 2 p.m. when the tractor trailer traveling in the left lane had a tire blew out, causing it to "veer to the left and travel into a metal beam guardrail and then strike a bridge abutment and catch on fire." Police said the tractor trailer was "melted." There were no reported injuries, police said. The highway was closed until midnight.

The Department of Transportation was inspecting the bridge which runs over Pendleton Hill Road.

After the crash, Health, Ledge Light Health District director Stephen Mansfield said that while most of the herbicides and pesticides on board were "consumed by fire," the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection was "assessing the possible effects on surface and groundwater, including assessing water quality in the Pawcatuck River and its tributaries. Residents are advised to avoid the Pawcatuck River and its tributaries from the junction of I-95 and Route 49, south to the mouth of the Pawcatuck River."

The DEEP is working with the cargo carrier, the state Department of Public Health Drinking Water Section, Ledge Light Health District, Westerly Water Department, which provides water for Pawcatuck, and Stonington officials on the investigation.

As state environmental and health officials are checking to see if pesticides and herbicides that may have leaked from the truck have contaminated the Pawcatcuk River and its tributaries, the town of Stonington took to social media to tell Pawcatuck residents that their water, which comes from the town of Westerly, Rhode Island water company, is safe to drink.

"Please be advised, we have been in contact with Westerly Water regarding the water supply in Pawcatuck. Westerly Water has noted that the water is safe for consumption. Further, they stated that prior to the accident that occurred yesterday on I-95, all of the water tanks were at capacity and went offline which is customary practice (meaning they were not drawing in any more water into the tanks). This included the White Rock Road facility. At this time, they are drawing water from the Bradford, RI site to supply to Pawcatuck."