One driver dies in truck crash in Alpine County

UPDATE 5/10/18 10:30 a.m.: State Route 88 remains closed near Woodfords Thursday morning as crews work to remove the demolished tanker truck involved in Wednesday's fatal crash.

Gregory Brown, 46, of Oakland, California has been identified as the driver, whose body was found at the scene nine hours after the crash.

Emergency personnel responded to the 10:05 a.m. call on May 9, 2018 on State Route 88 near the Caltrans maintenance yard west of Woodfords and the SR-89 junction. Upon arrival they found an overturned tanker and detached cab off the roadway.

Brown had been traveling eastbound on the steep roadway through the canyon. According to reports of witnesses, the truck was traveling above the speed limit and the driver was having trouble maintaining his lane.

The truck rolled over onto the westbound lane, then onto the northern shoulder. The tanker was on its way to make a delivery to a Carson City wastewater treatment facility and carrying a hypochlorite solution, much like bleach. The crash caused the liquid to escape into a stream that feeds into the Carson River.

As the contents were unknown, Hazmat workers had to clear the scene before law enforcement was allowed into the area. Residents were asked to stay inside (shelter in place) and school children were moved to another location. The cleanup took about nine hours, and once the California Highway Patrol and Alpine County Sheriff's Office were allowed into the area they located Brown's body.

The California Department of Fish & Wildlife was on the scene all day Wednesday, and are there again Thursday to make sure the hypocholorite didn't harm fish or birds. The solution dissipates in water but they are monitoring the situation. At this time no birds or fish show signs of harm, according to Eric Laughlin of Fish & Wildlife. He said they had concern due to the speed of the river in the area.

Drivers needing to go to Woodfords or Markleeville need to access the area via the Nevada side until the truck is removed.

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WOODFORDS, Calif. - A tanker carrying an unknown liquid overturned on SR-88 near Woodfords on Wednesday, prompting officials to issue a precautionary shelter in place for residents in the area.

According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), they believe the tanker was heading east on the highway when it overturned and went down an embankment, causing the tanker to split open and spill its contents.

They believe it is a toxic corrosive due to the type of tanker, but at this time they are unsure of the substance as there are no markings on the truck.

Jeff Gartner of the CHP in Meyers said the cause of the crash is under investigation, as is the spilled substance and the whereabouts of the driver. Rescue personnel cannot get close to the truck until the area is cleaned up due to the uncertainly of the tanker contents.

Gartner said they do not know at this time if the driver is in the truck.

He said the liquid made its way into a creek that flows to the Carson River, but at this time they are unsure if it made it into the river. All water authorities have been contacted.

SR-88 is closed around the crash which happened just west of the intersection of 88 and 89 in Alpine County near the Caltrans maintenance station.

Gartner said more information will be made available once details are investigated, most likely not until Thursday morning.