18-wheeler Tanker Plunges from Meighan Bridge into Coosa River
Driver Rescued, Cleanup Underway
GADSDEN — An 18-wheeler tanker truck drove through the railing of the J. Herbert Meighan Bridge on U.S. Highway 431 and plunged into the Coosa River Tuesday morning, April 28. The bridge connects east and west Gadsden. Contrary to initial reports that more than one person was in the vehicle, authorities confirmed the driver was the sole occupant. The driver survived the fall into the river and was rescued and transported to a hospital for treatment.
Gadsden Fire Chief Vance Brown said he received the call about the incident around 10 a.m. while attending a City Council meeting and noted that his department trains weekly for water-rescue incidents. Upon arriving at the scene, he realized an 18-wheeler had entered the water. Fire department crews reached the victim and removed him from the water within approximately ten minutes. Brown emphasized that both the rescue and environmental containment were primary concerns for the department.
Chief Brown confirmed the tank portion of the truck was empty, and that the greatest environmental threat came from diesel fuel and oil leaking from the vehicle. A visible fuel sheen and an odor of fuel were present when WEIS arrived on scene. Etowah County EMA Director Jim Slick estimated the vehicle could have been carrying about 200 gallons of diesel. Responders quickly deployed booms in the water to limit the spread of fuel and oil and to prevent contamination from traveling further downstream.
Slick credited timely assistance from surrounding agencies, including Marshall County EMA, which aided with boom placement, and Cherokee County EMA, which was en route with a contracted cleanup company and dive support. From Etowah County’s standpoint, Slick contacted Division F Coordinator Kirk Webb, who began mobilizing additional assistance to the scene. Local emergency management agencies coordinated closely while they were also tracking potential severe weather in the area when the incident occurred.
Gadsden Mayor Craig Ford confirmed the driver was receiving care at a hospital, that the cab of the truck remained submerged, and that a contractor was being brought in to remove contaminants from the Coosa River. He noted that the empty tank limited potential environmental impact and said operations would continue to recover the truck and remove diesel and other pollutants from the water.
The incident remained under investigation. According to a post from the driver’s family and details confirmed to WEIS radio by officials, the driver was reportedly experiencing a mental-health episode at the time of the crash.
By Tuesday afternoon, crews had successfully removed the tanker portion of the truck from the river, while the cab remained submerged. A dive team composed of officers from the Gadsden Police Department and the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office was preparing to enter the water to assist with removal of the cab. Chief Brown estimated the cleanup could take about two days and credited the collective effort of local agencies for the rapid response and containment work. Emergency-management and public-safety officials said they would continue recovery and environmental mitigation efforts until the river and surrounding area are secure.
