The driver of a tractor trailer was rescued after a 2 hour extrication in Rush Township Saturday evening after his vehicle went down an embankment, officials said.
According to a Facebook post by the Hope Fire Company, crews from the Philipsburg Fire Department and Port Matilda Fire Company were dispatched around 7:40 p.m. to reports of a vehicle accident with unknown injuries on the 2400 block of Upper Flat Rock Road.
The post says that initial 911 calls reported a damaged guiderail and debris on the roadway with no vehicle observed.
The Hope Fire Company stated that crews arrived on scene and discovered a tractor trailer approximately 75 feet over the embankment which had come to rest in a small stream.
According to the post, crews made contact with the operator who was conscious and alert but heavily entrapped.
Officials said that, after having rolled down the embankment, the tractor trailer came to rest on the driver's side, pinned up against two large trees, with a third tree coming down on top of the cab of the truck.
The post says additional crews were called in after realizing the extent of the entrapment, coupled with the steep and unstable terrain as well as an unknown cargo leaking from the tanker.
The post also said that Centre Region HazMat was requested and both eastbound lanes were immediately shut down.
According to the post, it was determined that the cab of the truck was pinning the driver in part from the fallen tree on top of the cab and a heavy-duty wrecker was requested to assist the extrication by lifting the large tree.
The Hope Fire Company stated that the driver was transported by Moshannon Valley EMS to the awaiting helicopter, Geisinger Life Flight 2.
According to the post, Centre Region HazMat handled the leaking cargo which was reported to be glycerin, and that the scene was cleared and roadways were reopened by around 11:30 p.m.
The Pennsylvania State Police are currently investigating the crash.
Crews that assisted during the incident include rescues Alpha’s of State College and Columbia of Osceola Mills, crews from Philipsburg, Port Matilda, State College and Osceola Mills, Morris Township Fire Company, Snow Shoe Fire Company, Hope Fire Company, Columbia Volunteer Fire Company, Bigler Boyz Towing & Recovery, PennDOT, Rush Township EMA and Centre County EMA.
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