By Katie Wagner, Staff Writer
MONTGOMERY — An overturned propane tanker that leaked propane caused one resident to be evacuated from his home and closed Route 518 for approximately four hours on Tuesday.
The resident has returned to his home since the incident, said Montgomery Police acting Lt. Jim Curry. The resident was evacuated as a precautionary measure because his home, which sustained no damage, was in close proximity to the crash site, Lt. Curry said.
The tanker’s driver, Frank Mitchell, 31, of Hamilton, had driven the front passenger side of the truck into a ditch off the north side of Route 518 while westbound, according to police. Mr. Mitchell turned his wheel to the left to try to bring his truck back in the road, but this caused the vehicle to travel sideways across both lanes, police said. The truck then left the south side of the roadway, just west of Hollow Road and struck a pole causing it to flip onto its side, police said. The tanker had been carrying between 600 and 700 gallons of propane.
Lt. Curry said he didn’t know how much propane leaked out of the truck.
Route 518 was closed between Hollow Road and Spring Hill Road from 3:12 p.m. to 7 p.m., with detour routes established at the intersections of Provinceline Road and Route 601.
Montgomery Township Police, Montgomery Township Emergency Medical Services, Montgomery Volunteer Fire Companies No. 1 and No. 2, a fire company from Hopewell and Somerset County’s office of emergency management and department of hazardous materials responded to the scene.
Mr. Mitchell complained of left shoulder pain due to his seat belt and was checked by Montgomery EMS, but refused medical attention. He received a summons for failing to maintain a single lane of travel.
