Recent Incidents
Fire Police And Engine Assist Mountville F.C. With Overturned Propane Tanker MVA
By
Jun 24, 2005 - 12:13: AM

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WEST HEMPFIELD TWP, PA - Mountville Fire Company responded to an early morning accident, June 23, in West Hempfield Township.

The 6 a.m. three-vehicle collision sent a tractor-trailer truck carrying propane sliding across the highway, blocking both east and westbound lanes of Route 30 near the Stony Battery Road overpass.

The accident occurred in the westbound lane, just past the Stony Battery Road interchange, when a 1996 Ford Explorer, driven by Paul Mazmania and a 2003 Ford Econoline van driven by David Fisher of Leacock Township, PA collided.

The Explorer then struck the tractor-trailer, forcing it into the guardrail. The 2005 International tractor-trailer driven by Earl Fryberger of Coatsville, PA jumped the guardrail, skidded into the east bound lanes and rolled onto its side.

Both Fryberger and the drivers of the two smaller vehicles were not seriously hurt, police said, and no eastbound vehicles crashed into the disabled truck lying on the highway.

Mazmania suffered moderate injuries, police said, and Fisher was not hurt. While the propane tank did not leak, the cab of the tractor-trailer was severy damaged.

The truck’s diesel fuel was leaking and Lancaster County Hazardous Materials Team was dispatched to the scene.

The propane trucking company spent 10 hours transferring the 9000 pounds of liquid propane from the damaged tank truck into another tank trailer.

Some residents along the stretch of highway were asked to stay inside or evacuate their homes as a precaution, police said, in case of an explosion while the propane tank was being removed from the highway.

The Lancaster Emergency Management Agency and local American Red Cross volunteers set up a temporary shelter for residents at the Mountville Fire Hall, as well as providing food and beverages for firefighters.

Traffic units from Columbia, West Hempfield Township and Lancaster Township were dispatched to the scene to help direct traffic.

The stretch of Route 30 was closed for 12 hours. The tractor-trailer was towed from the site at 5 p.m. and Route 30 reopened to traffic.

Engines from Columbia, West Hempfield Township, Millersville and Roherstown assisted at the scene with fire suppression.

© Copyright 2004 by Lancaster Township Fire Department