ORANGE — The Northwestern District Attorney’s office has identified the driver in a fatal accident that closed a part of Route 2 for an extended period and required evacuations after a tanker truck carrying methane gas crashed Friday night.
The driver was Lois Ann Johnson, 62, of Woodstock, NH.
The truck carrying methane, a highly flammable substance, “rolled over and down an embankment while exiting Route 2.” The trailer holding the contents ruptured, and a subsequent gas leak led to a Tier 2 HAZMAT situation with state and local authorities responding to remove the expelled gas and the gas still in the truck.
Orange Fire Department issued a statement that the “large-scale incident” began around 9:30 p.m. Friday in the area of Exit 14.
The circumstance and facts of the crash are still under investigation, according to State Police.
The crash led to local evacuations while hazardous materials crews worked the scene.
Route 2 between Exits 13 and 15 and West River Street by Oaklawn Ave was closed, and the Orange Fire Department evacuated residents in the immediate area to at least a half-mile away.
“The truck was hauling a large amount of compressed natural gas, and the cab and truck has significant damage making progress on the truck difficult. This is a long and intricate, slow process,” the Fire Department reported shortly after 11:30 a.m. Saturday.
Authorities used the local “Code Red” program to send alerts to residents’ phones at around 7 a.m. Saturday. Air quality in local neighborhoods was “monitored continuously” during the operation, according to the Fire Department. Evacuated residents were able to return home around 2 p.m. Saturday.
The section of road was reopened Saturday afternoon.
As of 5:25 p.m. Saturday, the Orange Fire Department reported off-gassing — the release of particles in the air — continued at the site, and crews would continue removing hazardous materials for several more hours.
According to the Orange Fire Department, the truck was still on its side down the embankment into Sunday morning, and had been removed by noon.
Reporter Max Marcus contributed to this report.