Heavy Load Topples Closing Lakeside Avenue

The excavator rolled off the trailer.

Lakeside, Calif. - 

At 5:19 p.m. on Thursday April 9, 2015, Lakeside firefighters were dispatched to a vehicle accident on Lakeside Avenue at Highway 67. Engine 1 arrived on scene to find that a 20 ton excavator had toppled off of its transport trailer landing on its side blocking the roadway.

Engine 2 protects the scene.

As a result of the overturned heavy equipment, 30 to 40 gallons of diesel fuel and hydraulic oil were actively leaking onto the roadway. It required the combined effort of Lakeside Fire, CHP, County and City Haz-Mat, County Roads, CalTrans and private contractor Bob's Crane to mitigate the incident.

San Diego Fire-Rescue Haz Mat 1 on scene.

Multiple agencies worked together for over four hours to resolve the situation.  Due to their cooperative effort, the hazardous materials were contained and prevented from entering the storm drain system.

Bob's Crane Service rights the excavator.

Lakeside Fire units assisting in the operation were Engines 1 and 2, Rescue3, Medic 3 and Chief 4101.

Story and Photos by:
Lakeside Fire Captain Rick Dalldorf