VERNON TOWNSHIP, NJ (Sussex County) – A driver was transported to a hospital Saturday afternoon after the fuel truck he was driving overturned in Vernon Township.
On January 18, at around 12:30 p.m., police responded to a motor vehicle accident on County Route 515 near the Acme Plaza. The crash involved an overturned home heating oil delivery truck.
Upon arrival, the first officer on the scene provided the Hazmat Code to the Dispatch Center to expedite emergency resources. The driver of the tanker, who was able to safely exit the vehicle, was subsequently transported to the hospital to receive treatment for injuries sustained during the crash.
The fuel container attached to the truck was damaged, leading to a significant spill of home heating oil onto the roadway. Due to the hazardous spill, County Route 515 had to be shut down for a prolonged period while authorities worked to manage potential runoff and carry out a safe clean-up process.
The cleanup operation involved a coordinated response from several agencies, including McAfee Fire, Pochuck Valley Fire, Vernon Fire, Highland Lakes Fire, Vernon Emergency Medical Services BLS, Sussex County Hazmat, Sussex County Diversion Team, Vernon Department of Public Works (DPW), Sussex County DPW, Bob and Bills Towing, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), and Hardyston Township Police Department. Ken’s Marine Services, a cleanup specialist company, was also on-site to assist with the hazardous materials clean-up.
The investigation is ongoing, and motor vehicle summonses are pending in relation to the crash. The roadway was reopened after the clean-up efforts were completed.
