Catastrophe narrowly averted

A driver-less flatbed truck shot out of control down East Market Street Friday morning, leaving onlookers aghast and narrowly avoiding a catastrophe.

This could have been much worse, said Brockville Fire Captain John Paul as he surveyed the scene moments after the accident.

Paul said the SMS Rents truck took off down the street after the driver unloaded a mobile lift for window-washers at City Hall shortly after 9 a.m. The truck narrowly missing parked vehicles before coming to a stop with the front end of the cab hanging over the retaining wall for the Brockville Railway Tunnel.

Paul said there was potential for disaster if people had been walking by the area when the truck came down the street.

Thank God it didn't hit anybody, said Paul. There were no injuries but there could have been somebody walking by with their dog when this came through.

He said damage was limited to the undercarriage of the cab, including a diesel fuel tank on the driver's side.

Firefighters stayed on the scene armed with absorbent material in case of a diesel spill until the vehicle was removed. Ultimately, that was not required, noted a thankful Captain Paul.

He said another concern is the amount of damage done to the historic retaining wall of the railway tunnel which underwent a comprehensive upgrade that included re-pointing in recent years.

The cab of the truck slammed down on the top of the wall as the wheels went over the edge, coming to a sudden stop atop the structure.

The impact caused some mortar to fall out between stones that were re-pointed two years ago and appeared to leave a crack on the flat surface at the top of the wall.

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Catastrophe narrowly averted