Gasoline tanker crashes in Northbridge

NORTHBRIDGE, Mass. - Fire and hazmat crews responded to Linwood Avenue Monday morning after a tanker crashed into parked cars.

A Cape Cod Gas truck crashed into parked cars on Linwood Avenue and then rolled down an embankment Monday.

Officials say the driver got distracted after dropping his coffee.

"He indicated he dropped his coffee, got distracted, took his eyes off the road and obviously made contact with those parked cars," said Northbridge PD Lieutenant Timothy LaBrie.

Six homes had to be evacuated. Officials estimate 100 gallons of gasoline spilled out. Crews were on scene working to contain the gas and keep it from getting into a nearby river.

"I called 911 right away because I thought there were two dead people in my yard because there was a truck down there and there was a car underneath the truck," said Rick Masnyk, owner of the yard where the tanker truck crashed.

Another truck arrived to pump the contents to the new truck.

Crews spent the day transferring nearly 100 gallons of spilled fuel to another truck. Workers had to race to contain the spill and prevent the fuel from seeping into a nearby river.

The tanker also took down a telephone pole, forcing six homes to be evacuated and cutting power to about 200 people.

Power was restored to the neighborhood at around 5:00 p.m.

Police say they are lucky this crash wasn't a catastrophe.

It took more than 13 hours for the gas tanker to be completely cleared from the scene.

No injuries were reported.

The area was finally cleaned up at around 9 p.m., when residents were allowed back into their homes after being evacuated.

First responders from at least 10 different towns endured scorching temperatures, working more than 12 hours to clear the path of destruction left behind by the tanker.

Officials say everyone is fortunate the crash did not ignite a fiery catastrophe.

Police have not yet released the driver's name or what charges he could be facing. He is currently in the hospital being checked out for minor injuries.

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