Hudson Valley Drinking Water Contaminated By Tanker-Truck Crash

Thousand of gallons of liquid asphalt spilled into Hudson Valley drinking water after a tanker-truck that lost its "brakes" crashed into a drinking water source.

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On Tuesday around 1 p.m., officers from the Putnam County Sheriff's Office were dispatched by Putnam County 911 to the area of Peekskill Hollow Road, at the intersection of Tinker Hill Road, in the Town of Putnam Valley for a report of a personal injury automobile accident, involving a tanker-truck with entrapment.

Upon arrival, the deputies located the tanker-truck which had driven into a tree off of Peekskill Hollow Road. The driver, Zachary Sultan, 34, of Amsterdam, told police while driving on Tinker Hill Road, to a job-site located off of Barger Street, he “lost his air and brakes" and could not stop police say.

The truck, which was carrying approximately 3,300 gallons of asphalt emulsion, crossed-over the intersection of Tinker-Hill Road and Peekskill Hollow Road, onto Peekskill Hollow Road, went through a guard-rail and into a stream before stopping after hitting two trees, according to police.

The crash caused asphalt emulsion to pour out of the back of the truck, into the stream that feeds into Peekskill Hollow Brook, which is a source of drinking water for the City of Peekskill, officials say. According to Asphalt Magazine, an asphalt emulsion is "liquid asphalt cement emulsified in water."

Westchester County Hazmat, NYS Hazmat, and the New York State ENCON Police Department were notified and responded to the spill.

A further investigation revealed that the weight of the truck was allegedly over the limit for operation on Tinker Hill Road, in violation of a Putnam Valley local code.

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The driver, who was treated at the scene for a possible broken foot or leg, was issued appearance tickets for violations. He transported to Westchester Medical Center for further medical evaluation.

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