On November 6, 2003 at about 1:10 pm, units from Hughesville’s Fire and EMS and Benedict’s EMS were alerted to respond to a reported overturned truck on Route 231 east of the Hughesville firehouse. Hughesville’s ambulance 27 responded and arrived on the scene first to find a lawn care truck overturned and the driver out of the vehicle, walking around.

Hughesville’s squad 2 arrived on the scene and establishing the “Prince Frederick Road Command.” While the EMS crew was evaluating the patient, the squad crew discovered that the truck contained about 70 gallons of pesticide and it was leaking.

Prince Frederick Road was shut down the area was isolated before a request was made for a Hazmat response. While Indian Head’s special unit 9 responded with the Maryland Department of the Environment, Hughesville’s squad crew used soil to contain the leaking product. The Incident Commander worked with the lawn care company to identify the hazards associated with the leaking chemical.

Once it was determined that the product was not hazardous to the environment and was water soluble, the crews used absorbent pads to help stop the flow and initiate the clean up efforts.

Once the vehicle was up righted, the lawn care company assumed control of the clean up. The Maryland Department of the Environment was placed in service prior to their arrival. Prince Frederick Road was reopened around 3:20 pm.