Brake failure causes dump truck to roll into Rockland Harbor
A dump truck that rolled into Rockland Harbor at Knight Marine waits to be hauled out by a crane Wednesday morning. (Courtesy Rockland Fire Department/by Alan Athearn)
(Courtesy Rockland Fire Department/by Alan Athearn)
A red outline is all that was visible of the truck after it submerged completely. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
The truck, suspended midair. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
Removal of the cement mooring. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
Handlers attach a crane hook to something in the water (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
The rear of the truck is pulled up. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
The diver, Dallas Fields of Fields Dive Service. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
A dump truck that rolled into Rockland Harbor at Knight Marine waits to be hauled out by a crane Wednesday morning. (Courtesy Rockland Fire Department/by Alan Athearn)
(Courtesy Rockland Fire Department/by Alan Athearn)
A red outline is all that was visible of the truck after it submerged completely. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
The truck, suspended midair. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
Removal of the cement mooring. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
Handlers attach a crane hook to something in the water (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
The rear of the truck is pulled up. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
The diver, Dallas Fields of Fields Dive Service. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
ROCKLAND — Rockland Fire Department was called to Knight Marine, where a dump truck reportedly lost its brakes and ended up partially submerged in the harbor.
The accident occurred at 525 Main St., adjacent to the Maine State Ferry Service terminal, around 9:45 a.m. According to Interim Fire Chief Adam Miceli, the operator, identified as Chris Oliver, was pulling up to the edge of the parking area to turn around when the brakes failed. The truck ended up driving over the edge of the parking lot and into the water.
Oliver was able to get himself out of the truck and was uninjured, according to Miceli. Low tide was at 6:04 a.m., and the tide was coming in, but was still 3-1/2 hours from high tide.
"There was a small amount of petroleum sheen visible upon our arrival, and the Knight Marine crew and the fire department stretched an oil absorbent boom across the narrow area to contain any contaminants," said Miceli.
The state Department of Environmental Protection was called, and a response technician was sent to the scene.
Arthur D. Henry Crane Service out of Thomaston was hired to remove the dump truck from the harbor, according to Miceli.
By 10:45 a.m., the truck was completely submerged, with only some surface gasoline visible to mark the truck’s location. Before it could be pulled from the water, a square, cement mooring had to be pulled out. Then, to keep further damage to the vehicle to a minimum, diver Dallas Fields, of Fields Dive Service, was called in to attach the tethers to the front and rear bumpers, and to shut the drivers’ side door, which reopened while still submerged.
Though DEP findings of the incident are not known, the environmental damage appeared to be minimal and well contained between the Knight Marine property and the ferry terminal, where the truck entered the water.
One sea bird attempted to float through the dirtied water above the submerged truck, but floated away again.
At least one boat launch was delayed between when the incident occurred and when the truck was returned to land around noon.
Reach Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards at hollyedwards@penbaypilot.com and 706-6655.
Event Date
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525 Main Street
Rockland, ME 04841
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