Route 20 is being closed to truck traffic between Route 63 in Pavilion and Route 77 in Darien because of an overnight tractor-trailer accident.
At 12:58 a.m., a tractor-trailer overturned on Route 20 in the area of Brookville Road, Alexander.
According to a dispatcher, the trailer broke away from the truck and the axles broke off the trailer.
A tow company is on scene now trying to upright the trailer.
Alexander Fire Department is on scene.
No injuries were reported.
UPDATE 6:38 a.m.: Chief Lance Schaulau on scene this morning said the driver reported swerving to miss a deer and went off the north shoulder of the roadway. The westbound truck was hauling retail items for a discount chain. Deputy Kevin Carlson estimated that Route 20 wouldn't open until after 7 a.m., and perhaps not before 8 a.m. Route 20 is closed to all traffic between Route 98 and Brookville Road.
UPDATE 7:38 a.m.: Two trucks are arriving on scene to gather up the spilled product.
UPDATE 7:51 a.m.: Darien fire at Route 77 and Pavilion fire at Route 63 are going back in service. Route 20 is reopened to truck traffic. The area of the crash will be reduced to one lane of traffic with a deputy and state trooper on scene to direct traffic. Alexander fire, which has been on scene since 1 a.m., is going back in service.
UPDATE 8:58 a.m.: Road reopened about five minutes ago.
Howard, I know it was early
Howard,
I know it was early in the morning when you wrote this so I'll give you a break but I did find this quote interesting...."Deputy Kevin Carlson estimated that Route 20 wouldn't open until after 8 a.m., and perhaps not before 8 a.m."
(I'll note that I was pleasantly sleeping at 5:11am and not up writing stories for the BEST LOVED on line newspaper in the country!!)
Awesome photos! I was going
Awesome photos! I was going to take Rt 20 from East Rd to Rt 19 through Texaco town this morning @ 5am and decided to run the deer gauntlet on the Bethany-LeRoy rd instead.
If the truck lost connection with the trailer king-pin and also lost the trailer axles, someone wasn't doing their job very well.
The trailer still looks
The trailer still looks attached. Definitely missing the axles though ;)
That has to be pretty hard on the driver. Make the choice to serve to avoid the deer (and avoid making deer hamburger all over the road), but instead wreck your truck + load.. :|
I hope we get a follow up on it! Curious to see what was at fault for the axles coming off. It didn't just take them off, it made it look like they were never even there.
Ever look at the welds holding together trailers? Yuck Yuck! Especially most trailers made out of aluminum.