Bitumen clean-up continues

12/12/2007

A CLEAN-UP operation was continuing today after a lorry spilled bitumen over a road and garden.

The Fodden tipper truck toppled over on the A694 at Ebchester, near Consett, County Durham - opposite the B6309 junction.

The truck had a mixed load of liquid bitumen and grit for road dressing and had been travelling north down Ebchester Bank just after noon on Tuesday.

advertisementA police spokesman said: "Near to the bottom of the bank the vehicle experienced a possible brake failure and was unable to stop.

"It then crossed the road and tipped over onto its offside and came to rest against a garden wall, spilling its load onto the main road and over a garden.

"The Environment Agency and Northumbria Water both attended regarding the possible spillage of bitumen into the water supply, they deemed all to be in order with no danger to public health."

The bitumen spilled in to the garden of 95-year-old Margaret Bird, 95, who has lived in the house for almost 40 years.

She said: "I was out the back and I did not hear anything.

"I came to the front and saw all of the men and they told me what happened.

"I thought something funny must have been going on but have not been out to look at it.

"But I think the hedge will need cutting and new lawn will have to be laid."

The 43-year-old male driver, from Dickinson St in Darlington, suffered minor injuries to his right side with cuts and a broken right collarbone.

He was taken by air ambulance to Newcastle General Hospital and been detained but his condition is not though to be life-threatening.

His passenger was a 21-year-old man from Evenwood, near Bishop Auckland, who suffered minor cuts and shock but declined hospital treatment.

Owners of vehicle are a firm of contractors based in Morton Park, Darlington.

The road was closed for nine hours.

Police are appealing for witnesses to call them on 0191-375-2159.

1:09pm Wednesday 12th December 2007

The Northern Echo - www.thenorthernecho.co.uk