CLEARFIELD – Emergency personnel responded to an overturned tractor trailer near state Route 879 on Tuesday.
According to the Lawrence Township Police Department the vehicle was transporting demolition debris from New Jersey to a landfill in Ohio. The vehicle overturned while the driver was rounding a sharp right curve on the ramp just prior to the SR 879 bypass. In the process the vehicle spilled debris on the roadway.
Police stated that the driver, 18-year driver, Lee E. Hummel of Florida, told them that he believed a rear axle air bag failed causing the suspension to drop and the load to shift abruptly to the left.
Hummel suffered minor injuries and refused treatment at the scene.
A number of agencies assisted at the scene, including fire departments from Clearfield Borough, Lawrence Township, and Glen Richey, as well as fire police personnel. PennDOT and the Emergency Management Agency were also at the scene to address road conditions and hazardous materials which included fuel, oil and antifreeze.
Drivers coming off of the Park Avenue ramp to enter onto the bypass must use the straight-ahead entrance for both left and right hand turns until further notice.