City of St. John's officials say they don't expect any contamination to the water supply after an accident that ended with three pieces of heavy equipment in Bay Bulls Big Pond.
Officials aren't sure how much diesel fuel or oil was actually spilled as a result of the accident, but clean-up is underway.
Walt Mills, the city's head of engineering, says the fuel spill is about two kilometres from the intake area of the water treatment plant and that it seems to be staying on the surface of the water - nearly 35 feet higher than the intake pipes for the water treatment. The city has also stepped up testing of the water to be sure there's no contaminatinon. Before being taken to the hospital, the driver of the truck told officials that he had two full tanks of fuel when he crashed over the 60-foot embankment.
There's a strong smell of diesel in the area and a pool of the fuel can be seen on the surface of the water.
Just before 2 p.m. a dump truck carrying a flatbed and backhoe went into the pond.
Witnesses say they saw a tire come off the truck before it went screeching over a 60-foot embankment into the pond.
A passerby apparently jumped out of their car and went into the pond to help the driver who was still trapped in the truck.
The driver has been taken to hospital and was conscious when he was loaded into an ambulance.
Reports from Telegram staff at the scene say there are tire marks for about 75 feet before the spot where the truck went over the embankment.
An investigation into the cause of the accident has already been launched.
Bay Bulls Big Pond is the largest water supply for the metro region.
Update: No contamination to water supply after crash at Bay Bulls Big Pond
Photo by Keith Gosse/The Telegram
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Published on
June 30, 2010
- Published on July 20, 2010
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Staff ~ The Telegram
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