Accident involving semi-trailer truck in Newtown leads to road closure

NEWTOWN – A hydraulic fluid leak from a tractor-trailer caused a multi-vehicle crash on Mile Hill Road at approximately 8:20 a.m. on July 26, resulting in significant traffic delays and an all-day road closure for cleanup.

Newtown Police reported that the first tractor-trailer lost a significant amount of hydraulic fluid, creating dangerous road conditions.

Subsequently, another semi-trailer truck skidded, causing its fuel tank to burst and a passenger car to veer off the road.

No injuries were reported in the accidents.

A Newtown officer found the first truck to leave the scene of the accident.

An investigation revealed that the driver knew about the leak but continued driving.

As a result, the driver received a citation for a misdemeanor charge of reckless driving under CGS 14-222.

In order to contain the environmental damage caused by the hundreds of liters of spilled liquids, the road had to remain closed for almost the entire day for clean-up work.

Multiple agencies, including the Newtown Hook and Ladder Volunteer Fire Department, Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Department, Newtown EMS, Newtown Public Works, Connecticut Department of Transportation, Connecticut State Police Commercial Truck Enforcement Squad, and Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, worked together to make the road safe again and limit environmental damage.

Newtown Police praised the patience and understanding of motorists affected by traffic and assured that all resources would be used to reopen the road as quickly and safely as possible.