Crews responded to a motor vehicle accident involving a propane tanker and pickup truck on Route 5 in Lackawanna. The accident sent three people to the hospital with non-serious injuries. It also forced the closure of a large section of Route 5 as hazmat crews from Buffalo and Erie County came to the scene.
The accident happened Wednesday morning near Dona Road around 6:30 a.m.
Police on the scene tell the 7 Eyewitness News crew that the propane tank is on its side and is leaking. The truck belongs to Irish Propane from Buffalo and was carrying 3,000 gallons of propane. Propane was leaking after the accident.
We are on Rt 5, this is the propane tanker on its side that has portions shut down. police say it is leaking, cause for concern @WKBW pic.twitter.com/BRxgGvMWgo
— Liz Lewin (@LizLewin7) December 21, 2016
Route 5 was closed all day in both directions between Miles Strip Road and Ridge Road. It has now reopened.
Lackawanna Police evacuated several businesses along Rt. 5, as a precaution. Special arrangements were made to accommodate residents and school children who live in Bethlehem Park.
Officials said it was too dangerous to right the truck with the propane still inside. Crews then used a special process to burn off the propane which created large flames. By mid-afternoon, the burn-off was complete and work was underway to remove the accident vehicles and salt the road because lots of water was used during the burn-off process.
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