Truck Overturns With 60+ Cylinders Of Propane, Oxygen: Officials

MASTIC, NY — First responders rushed to the scene of a potentially dangerous situation in Mastic after a crash Tuesday morning.

According to Mastic Fire Department's Chemical Company #1, the crash took place at 11:39 a.m and involved an overturned vehicle with entrapment.

Suffolk County Police said a pay loader and rack truck were both traveling eastbound on the Sunrise Highway North Service Road when the pay loader attempted to make a left turn onto Maple Avenue and was sideswiped by the rack truck.

The rack truck overturned; there were two male drivers, alone, in both vehicles, police said. The operator of the pay loader was not injured, police said.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration responded to the scene for checks on both vehicles; no tickets were issued, police said.

After Engine 5-12-2 arrived at the scene, it was discovered that a large, rack style truck had flipped onto its side after being involved in a collision with another vehicle, fire officials said.

The truck was carrying more than 60 cylinders of various sizes that contained oxygen, acetylene, and propane; many of the cylinders had spilled out onto the side of the road causing a potentially dangerous hazard, fire department officials said.

Fire department members provided fire protection during the transfer of all cylinders and assured crews with the removal of them, as well, the Mastic Fire Department said.

Fire department members were at the scene for just under four hours; the driver of the truck was transported to Long Island Community Hospital by the Mastic Ambulance Company for evaluation of minor injuries, the Mastic Fire Department said.

Patch photos courtesy Mastic Fire Department Chemical Co. #1.