WOODSTOCK — Environmental clean up is ongoing after a truck crashed onto the bank of the Ottauquechee River off Elm Street and leaked “an unknown amount of diesel fuel.”
The truck was carrying a large industrial air compressor when it left Elm Street north of Old River Road and toppled down the embankment, according to a news release from the Woodstock Fire Department. When emergency services arrived, both occupants of the truck were out and declined medical evaluation.
The truck was visibly leaking fuel after the crash.
Woodstock firefighters put out containment booms in the river to prevent fuel from spreading downstream, though emergency services do not know how much diesel entered the river before putting out the booms.
The booms will remain in place until an environmental contractor can complete a final cleanup of the area.
The truck also damaged a utility pole, bringing down power lines. Green Mountain Power has replaced the damaged utility pole and Sabil and Sons towing removed the truck from the bank Wednesday evening.
Portions of River Road, Elm Street and Barnard Road were reduced to one lane due to the accident Wednesday afternoon, according to a Wednesday Facebook post from the Woodstock Police Department.
Elm Street was later closed for recovery and was reopened at 7:20 p.m., according to the Fire Department.
Officials asked the public to avoid any activity in the Ottauquechee River east of the Elm Street bridge Wednesday afternoon.
