January 16, 2024
Approximate time: 1400
Weather Conditions: Snow / Ice

Contacted to respond to Route 283 eastbound between Route 72 and Route 30 to assist Wayne’s Towing & Recovery at the scene of a jack knifed tractor trailer that the unit had major damage and a large fuel spill. It was requested that we respond with a rotator and a tractor for the trailer.

While enroute, photos were sent from the scene. Based upon the photos, a second rotator and one of our heavy duty dollies were dispatched to the scene as well. The dolly was loaded for transport onto one of our rollbacks and hauled to the scene.

Upon arrival, WTR personnel were in the process of drilling and pumping the leaking fuel tanks. The truck had major damage. The cab was knocked loose and shifted to the side several feet. The back axle was knocked loose and the frame was severely bent. The unit had two of the three lanes blocked and there was a major traffic back log. Our team worked with WTR to attempt to get a second lane open.

One of our rotators hooked to the front of the tractor to spin it around out of the lane. WTR’s heavy wrecker hooked to the rear of the trailer to winch it sideways out of the lane. WTR then cleared the lane of the debris.

We attempted to separate the truck and trailer, however, the fifth wheel plate on the truck was severely damaged and would not release. One of the rotators hooked to the front of the trailer to lift it. The pins holding the pivot pins for the fifth wheel were cut. The fifth wheel pivot pins were removed. The trailer and fifth wheel plate were then lifted off of the tractor. The trailer was then lifted clear of the tractor. One of the rotators then hooked to the front of the trailer and prepared to tow it from the scene.

WTR’s heavy wrecker hooked to the front of the tractor. Our second rotator hooked to the dolly and lifted it off of the rollback to set it into position to be placed under the back of the trailer. The rotator then lifted the back of the tractor and the dolly was put into position. The wheels and tires were removed from the back axle on the tractor driver’s side. The back axle was chained in place. The tractor was set onto the dolly and the secured to the dolly. The rotator was returned to travel position.

The damaged truck and trailer were towed from the accident scene to the Cochranville storage facility, while WTR remained onscene handling the spill clean up.

Once at Cochranville the truck was lifted off of the dolly and placed in storage.