Guilford back on track after tanker crash

11/28/2006

Michael Gannon , Register Staff

GUILFORD — A week after a loaded propane tanker overturned on Soundview Road, things are back to normal. "We had to put a few people in (hotels) overnight, and a few elected to stay in the Community Center," said First Selectman Carl Balestracci on Monday. "The utility pole that was taken out was replaced that day."

But town emergency workers have only now completely caught up from the incident that forced people from their homes and businesses in a half-mile radius of the accident that kept state and local officials holding their breath for 16 hours while they stabilized and removed a truck containing 9,000 gallons of liquid propane.

"The firemen had to clean all of the equipment that was used," Balestracci said.

"They came in over the holiday weekend. They packed up their portable incident tent. They refilled all their air packs. They had to rehab and recycle all of the material that they used (over 16 hours). And this is with the fire department getting 16 calls on Thanksgiving Day alone."

The driver of the truck, 38-year-old Richard Loffredo of Cranston, R.I. suffered a broken leg in the accident.

Investigators believe that he failed to negotiate an S-turn in the road while driving the truck, which belongs to a Bridgeton, N.J., company called Papco.

Deputy Police Chief Jeff Hutchinson said Monday that Loffredo has not yet been issued any summonses in connection with the incident

The truck came to rest on its side on a patch of marshy ground.

The broken utility pole left wires hanging precariously close to the tanker, which ultimately remained intact without so much as a small leak of its volatile contents.

"Our emergency services performed wonderfully," Balestracci said.

"But we also were lucky too. If that truck had overturned on pavement, if the skidding caused a leak or some sparks … so much could have gone wrong."

Balestracci said Yale-New Haven Hospital and its satellite clinic in Guilford remained on stand-by the entire night.

He said Connecticut Medical Emergency Dispatch, which coordinates ambulance coverage for the region, also had resources at the ready as did all surrounding municipal police and fire departments.

The cost to the town still is unknown, with department heads from the police, fire, public works and parks and recreation departments still calculating the wreck’s direct costs.

Balestracci said Fire Chief Charles Herrschaft is currently checking with the federal government to determine what if any costs the town can try and recoup from the truck’s owners.

Michael Gannon can be reached at mgannon@nhregister.com , or 458-5757.