At 1:59pm, Downingtown Fire and EMS units were dispatched to a serious accident on the Route 30 Bypass around milemarker 281 westbound. Responding units were advised of multiple 911 calls reporting a tanker truck had overturned in the construction zone and the driver may be trapped. Off duty Sergeant 46 (J. Brooks) was in the area and arrived first to confirm a single axle tanker truck overturned down the embankment just east of the Lancaster Ave exit, with the driver found self extricated with the help of bystanders. The driver advised Sergeant 46 that he was not injured and he was carrying approximately 2800 gallons of diesel that was actively leaking from the valve system. That updated information was passed along to Assistant 45 (J. Stevens) and Battalion 46 (J. Swisher), and additional resources were requested from the Chester County HazMat Team and a foam unit from Station 5 (East Whiteland). Fire police from multiple agencies were also requested to set up a detour plan to close the bypass westbound for an extended amount of time. After Minquas EMS evaluated the driver and confirmed zero injures, a rehab area was set up on the roadway for the crews working onscene. The engine crews set up foam handlines to protect the scene, while the rescue crew stabilized the vehicle to enable the hazmat crews to safely examine the damage and contents. The hazmat crew began preparing the truck for the offload of the product, which took several hours. Additional rehab supplies were later brought into the scene, as well as an engine from Station 38 (Thorndale) to enter the scene from the wrong direction to assist with more manpower. After the fuel load was removed from the vessel, Abel Brothers Towing safely uprighted the truck and placed it back onto the roadway. Upon further investigation, very little fuel was spilled onto the ground and was able to be safely contained.

Final emergency units cleared the scene shortly before 10pm.

*Special thanks to the standby coverage provided to the area by Wagontown FC, West Bradford FC, and Good Fellowship EMS.