OPP contacted us, having called us first, in regard to a pressing situation on Highway 401 E, near to Mississauga. A serious accident involving three transport trucks had occurred, requiring immediate assistance from a heavy tow. The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) explicitly instructed us to clear the highway due to its obstruction caused by the collision. Moreover, a diesel fuel leak from the tank was reported, further compounded by the widespread spillage of transmission and engine oil across the entire stretch of the highway.
The occurrence of the accident caused a significant disruption in the flow of traffic, primarily due to the fact that it resulted in the obstruction of the middle lanes on the highway. It became apparent that taking swift and safe action was crucial in order to address the situation effectively and restore the roadway to its normal capacity. Consequently, our dedicated crews promptly mobilized and arrived at the scene with specialized recovery units to commence the process of recovering the trucks involved in the accident, while also ensuring the removal of debris and pollutants from the area. The objective was to facilitate the reopening of the highway as soon as possible.
Upon arrival at the location, our Hazmat team swiftly took action to address the occurrence of the hazardous fluids spillage, aiming to restrict and inhibit any potential further spread along the highway. To effectively achieve this, we promptly deployed speedy dry absorbent material to form containment barriers around the areas where the fluids were leaking; efficiently creating dikes that enclosed the pools of hazardous substances. Our immediate response and implementation of these containment measures were vital in containing the spill and minimizing its impact on the surrounding environment.
After the entire fuel was extracted, our HAZMAT truck was relocated at the scene to allow for the subsequent recovery units to carry out their tasks effectively. We positioned our NRC Rotator and NRC Slidder for operation. Firstly, we successfully dislodged the first truck, which had become tightly wedged under the cement truck and had caused extensive damage to its front portion. Subsequently, we had to carefully remove the obstructing truck from the path and proceeded to connect the tractor-trailer by detaching the axles. For securing the load, we utilized a combination of chains and straps.
Furthermore, to address the remaining oil and fuel, additional absorbent materials were applied across the entire affected area. These absorbents were specifically chosen for their high absorption capacity. Once the contaminated speedy dry absorbent had absorbed the oil and fuel, it was diligently gathered by sweeping and then carefully deposited into designated HAZMAT Drums for proper disposal.