L. MACUNGIE TWP., Pa. - A fiery crash took place on Schantz Road between Hamilton and Cetronia in Lower Macungie, Township just before noon Monday morning.
According to an article by 69 News, a woman was driving her SUV north on Schantz Road when a tractor-trailer began pulling out of a nearby storage unit's driveway. She tried to avoid it, swerving to the right, but the SUV hit the truck's fuel tank, according to the news report. Both vehicles burst into flames.
Photo courtesy Mike Nester
Thankfully, neither driver was seriously injured, as both exited their vehicles before the flames erupted, according to the news article.
The elderly woman driving the SUV was taken to the hospital for minor injuries
John Yocum of Yocum Towing and Recovery who is in charge of the cleanup told 69 News that now comes the environmental cleanup. He said an estimated 150 to 170 gallons of fuel spilled.
Yocum also told 69 News, "A lot of smoke. Smoke, and both vehicles were basically burned to the ground with fluid spills," Yocum said, "60, 75 yards down the road. And that's what they were concerned about." "From the oil pan of the truck and the gases so forth from the car, it was definitely in that range," Yocum said.
According to 69 News, The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection was notified and says it'll likely come in to test the ground for contamination.
If the soil is contaminated, the DEP would have to dig it out for the landowners, according to Yocum. The DEP says the earliest that would happen would be Tuesday.
The county as well as the township's Deputy Director of Community Development have been involved in the cleanup in addition to the towing company, according to WFMZ
Source WFMZ
Photos courtesy Mike Nester