DEP Had 'FAST' Response to Tanker Rollover

Agency uses field assessment and support team mobile lab in situations like that.

  The following text was provided by the Mass Department of Environmental Protection. A potentially explosive situation loomed in the hours after a gasoline tanker truck overturned on Route 128 South in Woburn last month. About 7,500 gallons of gasoline spilled from the tanker, running into the highway drainage system and flowing out into the nearby Aberjona River. Unhealthy vapors hung in the air, and migrated into a hotel nearby and a gym building downstream along the river. Two days earlier, in the South End of Boston, an explosion did occur – an underground steam pipe blew up, blasting holes in the sidewalk along Harrison Avenue and spewing dangerous asbestos fibers over everything within a one block area of the city. The Massachusetts…

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Week In Review

Five Police Incidents That Had Woburn Talking

A look back at the week in police and fire news in Woburn.

These five stories and Police Log entries had people talking on our Facebook page and readers clicking links this week. ARREST LOG: Naked Teen's Acquaintance Taken into Protective Custody July 15—At 9:05 p.m., an 18-year-old Wilmington man was taken into protective custody. Police received a report of a cafeteria alarm at the Linscott-Rumford School and found the teen lying on the grass, wearing only shorts. According to police, the 18-year-old was “heavily intoxicated.” As police checked the area, they observed a naked teenaged girl running and hiding behind an electrical box, and another teen fled behind the bushes. Police spoke to both parties who said the man lying on the grass was a “a friend of a friend.” He was taken into …

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Tanker Cut Off Before 128 Rollover, Fuel Spill

The rollover accident spilled thousands of gallons of gasoline on Route 128 Monday night.

  Authorities believe that the gasoline tanker that rolled over on Route 128 Monday night was cut off by a passenger car. According to the Massachusetts State Police, in an attempt to exit off of Route 128 South, the car moved quickly from the second travel lane into the rightmost lane, close to the tanker. The car was believed to be slowing down to exit the highway, and the tanker truck was unable to stop, said authorities. "[The tanker] struck the passenger car, swerved and rolled over," said a MSP spokesman late Tuesday night. The driver of the tanker, Michael Cormier, 50, of Waltham, was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital by Woburn Fire with non-life threatening injuries. The truck is owned by Liberty Transport of Quincy. …

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Route 128 Open To Traffic After Fuel Spill

Both sides of highway were shut down for several hours overnight due to hazmat incident.

  Tuesday, 7:43 a.m. The Mass Department of Transportation announced via its official Twitter account that all travel lanes of Route 128 North and South are open, as well as the on-and-off ramps of Washington Street. Tuesday, 7:20 a.m. WOBURN—A tanker truck rollover late Monday night shut down Route 128 in both directions for about eight hours overnight. Fire personnel on scene struck four alarms in order to get enough manpower to the highway for clean-up efforts. According to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Route 128 has been reopening slowly Tuesday morning for the commute. Shortly after 5 a.m., all northbound lanes were reopened and exit 36 was opened to traffic. The on-ramp to 128 South was opened from Route 93, as well…

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UPDATE: Tanker Rollover Causes Major Hazmat Incident on 128 Overnight

Reports say "river of gasoline" on Route 128 Monday night; Tuesday commute affected.

  Tuesday, 7:45 a.m. All travel lanes and ramps to Route 128 North and South in Woburn are open, announced the Mass Department of Transportation.   Tuesday, 7:30 a.m. While all four lanes of Route 128 North and South are now open to traffic, the on-and-off ramps of Washington Street remain closed this morning after last night's major hazmat incident. Woburn Fire was forced to strike four alarms for the incident, the first time since 2002 (the Bond Shoe fire on May 20, 2002). According to officials, a tanker truck carrying 10,000 gallons of gasoline rolled over on Route 128 South after colliding with a passenger car. The cause and circumstances of the original accident is still under investigation. The driver was taken to Mass General …

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