Norfolk continues cleanup from November gasoline tanker spill

NORFOLK, Conn. — A gasoline tanker truck rolled over in the early morning hours of Saturday, Nov. 5, on Route 44 just east of the Village Green, spilling thousands of gallons of fuel into the town’s storm drain system.

According to the police report, a tanker truck operated by Lamont Barham, 27, of Bridgeport was driving westbound when the truck swerved into the opposite lane, hitting a utility pole and then a fire hydrant.

The vehicle then rolled onto its passenger side and spilled its entire contents of 8,200 gallons of fuel into the town’s drainage system.

The town has since held two informational meetings about the spill, and at the most recent one on Dec. 20, residents were told that the event is still under emergency response conditions with DEEP, and that 600 tons of soil and sediment as well as 90,000 gallons of impacted water and gasoline have been removed to off-site disposal.

More cleanup work is planned for the spring, including upgrading a stormwater pipe, soil sampling in the drainage channel, and the installation of additional groundwater monitoring wells and soil borings.

The town has since engaged independent counsel to represent its interests. It is planned for Route 44 to be remilled and repaved due to the accident itself. Also as a result of the accident, a petition is being circulated calling for lower speeds in the Botelle School zone.

On the morning of the accident, following a response by the Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department and Norfolk Lions Club Ambulance at 5:58 a.m., Eversource cut power to the area. Residents were evacuated from the area for safety reasons, and those who chose and/or had no other options were moved to Botelle Elementary School, which also serves as the town’s emergency shelter.

Cleanup by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) began that afternoon.

DEEP’s investigation found that gasoline from the upended truck traveled under Pettibone Lane into the brook at Maple Avenue and then down to the culvert at the five-way intersection of Emerson Street, Mills Way, Shepard Road and John Curtiss Road.

A sand berm was placed, blocking the gasoline from moving farther down Shepard Road and preventing it from entering the Blackberry River.

“The scope of this incident is basically unprecedented in town,” said Jonathan Barbagallo, the town’s assistant emergency management director and public information officer.

The evacuations came to an end at around 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5, and Route 44 residents were allowed to return to their homes after metering by the NVFD.

Route 44 east of the Village Green remained closed until Friday, Nov. 11.

The driver was transported to Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington and treated for minor injuries and was found at fault in the accident and was issued a warning for failure to maintain lane.