Truck Owner Cited in Royersford

The Royersford Police Department was dispatched for a vehicle that was leaking fuel at N. 5th Ave. and N. Chestnut St. around 8:55 p.m. on Monday night. The vehicle turned out to be a tractor with no trailer attached that belonged to Cougar Services Inc., based out of Phoenixville.

The tractor was heading to the company's Royersford location, which is also located on N. 5th Ave. Officer Thomas Godin, who was on the scene, said the tractor was about 25 yards away from its destination.

When police and firefighters arrived on scene, they noticed that the fuel tank of the tractor was dislodged from the vehicle.

"We had a minimal fuel leak estimated under five gallons," Godin said. "Fire and police on location shut down the road while the owner of the company came out and removed the fuel from the fuel tank and eventually removed the fuel tank from the vehicle."

Godin reported that the 200-block of N. 5th Ave. was shut down for about two hours, which disrupted local residents who may have been working the three to 11 shift.

After further inspection, the fuel tank's straps were deemed the reason for the accident.

“The two straps that were holding it in place were faulty, or were not in proper condition causing the tank to break loose,” said Godin.

Royersford police issued three citations to the owner of the tractor: unsecured loads, which is the fuel that leaked from the vehicle; unlawful activities, which is a section under the motor carrier inspection code according to Godin; and the unsecured fuel tank. Godin said the vehicle operator will not be cited, just the owner.