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Glenville Cleanup Continues After Maple Avenue Bridge Crash

GLENVILLE — The cleanup efforts following Thursday night’s crash at the Maple Avenue Bridge in Glenville are still underway, with crews working diligently to restore power and repair affected power lines. Town Supervisor Chris Koetzle expressed optimism that the road will reopen by Saturday or Sunday. As of Saturday morning, the truck’s cab has been removed, while crews are still working to clear the trailer from the site.

“The cleanup turned out to be more extensive than anticipated, but we hope that the roads will be back open later this evening or early tomorrow,” said Koetzle. “We’re optimistic because the rail company has assured us that the bridge is safe, so there is no need for the road to remain closed after the cleanup is completed.”

Following the crash, a state of emergency was declared on Friday but was later lifted the same night. The state of emergency allowed for a more efficient response to the incident, which is now nearing its conclusion, according to Koetzle.

The crash occurred around 6:34 p.m. on Thursday, involving a truck driven by Sylvester Basil Jr., a 60-year-old resident of Clute, Texas. Basil sustained third-degree burns on his hands and face and was immediately airlifted to Westchester Medical Center for treatment. The driver was en route from Pennsylvania to an unknown location north of the crash site, transporting canisters of gas. The collision resulted in a fiery explosion, with flames reaching heights of up to 200 feet. By Friday, all the cans had been emptied, and the remaining canisters were removed during Saturday’s cleanup.

According to the driver’s statement to the officers on the scene, he was solely relying on his GPS navigation, failing to notice the height warning signs. Police emphasize that drivers are ultimately responsible for being aware of the dimensions of their vehicles.

Glenville has been in the spotlight in recent years due to consistent strikes on its bridges. However, Thursday’s crash has been deemed the most severe, surpassing the multiple incidents at the more popular Glenridge Road Bridge. To address the issue, the state’s Department of Transportation recently installed a laser detection system at the Glenridge Road Bridge. However, officials note that this diversion has only aggravated the situation at Maple Avenue.

Koetzle pointed out that when drivers heed the warnings and avoid the Glenridge Bridge, their GPS often redirects them towards Maple Avenue, exacerbating the problem. Additionally, a subsequent crash occurred, injuring three individuals, including Thomas Corners Fire Department Chief Don Vlainich. All three were transported to Albany Medical Center, but an update on their condition is currently unavailable.

Both Koetzle and a spokesperson for CSX Transportation, the rail line’s owner, confirmed that despite the intense flames, the bridge itself did not suffer any structural damage.

The explosion caused a temporary power outage for thousands of nearby residents, and as a precautionary measure, those living closest to the crash were evacuated. However, they were allowed to return to their homes on Friday.

Witnesses who observed the crash and its aftermath described heavy smoke clouds and a vibrant orange flash in the sky.

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