The accident occurred on a part of Lakeside Drive is a narrow, gravel road. This photo was taken by Lt. Rommie Duckworth of the Ridgefield Fire Department, from the department’s small aluminum boat.
A driver traveling east on Lakeside Drive lost control of a full-sized pickup truck early yesterday evening, and the truck ended up partially submerged in Rainbow Lake.
The accident prompted the Ridgefield Fire Department to take special measures to curb the possible spread of gasoline, oil and other fluids from the truck.
The lake is in a reservoir watershed and is also a source of recreation for the neighborhood.
The driver was not reported injured.
Fire Chief Heather Burford said the department’s boat was launched and oil-absorbing booms were placed around the vehicle to absorb any fluids that might escape from the vehicle.
Firefighters used a boat to put booms on the water around the truck to prevent spread of any polluting fluids.—Chief Heather Burford photo
“The Department of Energy and Environmental Proection DEP was notified and will be investigating,” Chief Burford said. “Tow trucks worked for about 90 minutes to carefully remove the vehicle. In the end no obvious fluids were detected; the booms were left in place as a precaution.”
The accident occurred on a part of Lakeside Drive is a narrow, gravel road.
Rainbow Lake and the other Ridgefield Lakes, as well as Bennett’s Pond, feed the Saugatuck Reservoir in Redding. The reservoir is one of the water sources for Aquarion, which serves many town in southwestern Connecticut, including Ridgefield.
Police are investigating.