Overturned Tanker Creates Delicate, Dangerous Situation
By: Jordan Vandenberge
Updated: December 10, 2012
An overturned tanker truck knocks out power for hundreds of people near Poseyville. The power outage forced students at nearby schools to learn in the dark.
The accident happened around 9 this morning on Highway 165. Crews had to close the highway because gas leaked out of the tanker and spilled into a nearby ditch. The tanker flipped onto it's side and clipped a utility pole and cut off power to more than 600 customers in Poseyville including North Posey Schools.
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An overturned tanker truck Monday left emergency crews in the cold and North Posey students in the dark.
"As far as I can tell the vehicle just went off the roadway," ISP Trooper Matt Jacobs said. "Whenever it did, it went into a ditch and flipped and took out a power line at the same time."
"With no power, the first thing you have to do is make sure the kids are safe," North Posey Schools Superintendent Dr. Todd Camp said. "And the classrooms are lit well enough and people have flashlights and there's no danger areas."
The only danger area was the side of Highway 165. The tanker flipped, spilling gas onto the road and into a ditch.
"Obviously it's still a tense situation until we get it cleaned up," Trooper Jacobs said.
Meanwhile, students at North Elementary School cleaned up their lunch plates. No power, no problem.
"The students were doing an excellent job and I have to commend the cafeteria ladies for even being able to get a meal out," Dr. Camp said. "It's been a wonderful situation in a bad situation."
It's hard enough to keep the attention of elementary school students, let alone doing it without electricity. The only distraction proved to be, well, a guy with a news camera.
"Everything seemed to be going like nothing ever happened," Dr. Camp said. "Electricity is important but for a short term I guess you can get by."
A less-than-typical day was full of lessons for these students. But back at the accident scene came perhaps came the best lesson of all.
"The driver was trapped in the vehicle," Trooper Jacobs said. "With the help of some good samaritans that were at the scene, we managed to pull him from the semi itself and got him away from the scene."
The accident happened around 9 this morning on Highway 165. Crews had to close the highway because gas leaked out of the tanker and spilled into a nearby ditch. The tanker flipped onto it's side and clipped a utility pole and cut off power to more than 600 customers in Poseyville including North Posey Schools.
***
An overturned tanker truck Monday left emergency crews in the cold and North Posey students in the dark.
"As far as I can tell the vehicle just went off the roadway," ISP Trooper Matt Jacobs said. "Whenever it did, it went into a ditch and flipped and took out a power line at the same time."
"With no power, the first thing you have to do is make sure the kids are safe," North Posey Schools Superintendent Dr. Todd Camp said. "And the classrooms are lit well enough and people have flashlights and there's no danger areas."
The only danger area was the side of Highway 165. The tanker flipped, spilling gas onto the road and into a ditch.
"Obviously it's still a tense situation until we get it cleaned up," Trooper Jacobs said.
Meanwhile, students at North Elementary School cleaned up their lunch plates. No power, no problem.
"The students were doing an excellent job and I have to commend the cafeteria ladies for even being able to get a meal out," Dr. Camp said. "It's been a wonderful situation in a bad situation."
It's hard enough to keep the attention of elementary school students, let alone doing it without electricity. The only distraction proved to be, well, a guy with a news camera.
"Everything seemed to be going like nothing ever happened," Dr. Camp said. "Electricity is important but for a short term I guess you can get by."
A less-than-typical day was full of lessons for these students. But back at the accident scene came perhaps came the best lesson of all.
"The driver was trapped in the vehicle," Trooper Jacobs said. "With the help of some good samaritans that were at the scene, we managed to pull him from the semi itself and got him away from the scene."
