From the Saratoga Springs Department of Public Works, Nov. 14: At approximately 4 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021, a truck traveling along Loughberry Lake Road in the Town of Wilton accidentally crashed into Loughberry Lake. The Greenfield Fire Department, New York State Police, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), and the Saratoga Springs Department of Public Works (DPW) responded to the crash.
The DEC called in an environmental cleanup crew at approximately 5:30 a.m., and along with DPW, deployed booms into the lake to contain any oil that has escaped from the truck. Buoy booms will remain in the lake to contain any remaining oil, and absorbent booms will mitigate any oil that spilled.
As Loughberry Lake is the main water supply for the City of Saratoga Springs, the water treatment plant chief directed that the plant be temporarily shut down around 4 a.m. to determine the extent of the oil spilled following the crash.
Oil from the vehicle was contained to the North East portion of the lake approximately a mile from the intake system and does not pose a problem for the water treatment plant. Once the truck was removed and oil contained, the water plant was restarted at 9 a.m. The New York State Department of Health was also notified of the situation.
The driver of the vehicle was unharmed.
In an email, New York State Trooper Kerra Burns, the public information officer, says that troopers responded at about 3:45 a.m. to find that the truck struck a ditch before overturning into the lake.
The cause of the crash was determined to be unsafe speed for weather conditions. The 29-year-old driver was evaluated by EMS at the scene. The email did not mention drugs, alcohol or the need for further emergency care.
Residents can contact the water treatment plant operators at 518-584-1848 with any questions or concerns.