COMMERCIAL TRUCK OVERTURNS ONTO PICKUP TRUCK; RNC INVESTIGATING

A serious collision involving a commercial truck and a pickup truck shut down a section of the Outer Ring Road in St. John’s for nearly seven hours Wednesday evening (May 13th), as emergency crews worked to rescue trapped occupants and investigate the crash.

Just after 5:50 p.m. on May 13th, emergency services were called to the westbound lanes of the Outer Ring Road, just west of Allendale Road, following reports of a collision involving a commercial truck and a passenger pickup truck.

When emergency crews arrived on the scene, they found the commercial truck overturned in a ditch off the roadway. The pickup truck had been crushed underneath the larger vehicle, trapping both occupants inside.

The driver of the commercial truck was transported to hospital with injuries that were not immediately known.

Firefighters spent approximately 30 minutes using rescue equipment and extraction tools, including the “Jaws of Life,” to free the female passenger from the pickup truck. Once removed from the crushed vehicle, she was taken to hospital with unknown injuries.

Rescue efforts then continued for the male driver of the pickup truck, who remained trapped for approximately 50 minutes while crews again used extraction tools, including the Jaws of Life, to remove him from the wreckage. He was transported to hospital with what were believed to be serious injuries.

The RNC said in a statement that a total of three people were sent to the hospital, however one has been released. The injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

Police have said that a commercial truck was travelling eastbound when it left the roadway, entered the median, and crossed into the westbound lanes before striking the pickup truck. Both vehicles then came to rest in the ditch, with the commercial truck overturning onto the pickup.

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary’s Collision Investigation Team was called to the scene to assist with traffic control and conduct a detailed investigation into the cause of the crash.

The westbound lanes of the Outer Ring Road at Allendale Road remained closed for nearly seven hours while firefighters and paramedics worked to rescue the victims, police conducted the investigation, and crews completed the lengthy cleanup and recovery of the vehicles.

As part of the investigation, RNC Collision Reconstructionists are seeking any witnesses or video footage (dash camera, cell phone) in the lead up to or immediately following the collision.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the RNC at 709-729-8000.