ROCKLAND (Sep 25, 2002): It took
a few hours to remove Justin Dennison's pickup truck from deep down
inside the quarry at the Rockland Transfer Station, but it went off
without a hitch.
Old County Road was closed and traffic was diverted while a crane
was set up on the roadway to reach over the side and down into the
quarry to pluck the pickup out of the water where it lay since the
accident late Sunday night.
 |
| Tuesday's recovery effort took approximately two hours
to complete. |
Rockland City Manager Tom Hall said the vehicle was removed
because the transfer station is only licensed to accept construction
debris. Hall said the cost for removing the truck was approximately
$1,000.
"We will be seeking restitution for that cost," Hall said.
Dennison has not been charged for the accident, but Hall said he
believes charges are being considered.
Rockland Deputy Police Chief Wally Tower declined to comment
pending an investigation.
Charlie Weidman, who has a mooring and dive service business, was
enlisted to perform the yucky task of going into the water and
securing a cable to the truck so it could be hoisted out.
Weidman said it was black under the water, even though he was
just a foot or two below the surface.
"I did it by Braille," Weidman said with a big grin.
 |
| Jack Madore, of Henry Crane Service in Thomaston, hands
hooks to diver Charlie Weidman to attach to the body of the
pickup truck. (Photos by Holly S.
Anderson) |
Weidman said he used his experience recovering a dump truck in
Islesboro for the Rockland recovery. The dump truck fell back into
the water when the truck's axle gave way.
"Instead I found a place on the pickup's frame to hook to,"
Weidman said.
Weidman also credits having the right equipment for making the
dive into the caustic water a safe one. Weidman said he used a
positive pressure mask, or Aga mask, that expels air if the rubber
seal around the edge is broken, keeping out the water and anything
that might be in it like gasoline, oil and radiator fluid.
"The only thing that got wet was my hands and I disinfected them
right away," Weidman said.
The smell didn't bother him either, Weidman said, until he got
back out and took off his mask. It was only after he disturbed the
water's surface that an odor was apparent, and said, "Then it was
pretty bad."
The accident occurred around 11 p.m. Sunday night when residents
said they heard someone "burning
rubber" in the vicinity of Limerock Street and Old County Road.
Dennison was reportedly spinning around in 360-degree circles when
he lost control of the truck, slid nearly 200 feet, hit a cement
wall, a guardrail and then flipped over into the quarry.
The truck landed on its roof and sunk below the surface. Dennison
was able to escape despite his injuries.
Rockland Police Officer Joel Neal discovered Dennison nearly
80-feet below the roadway, laying on a mat of weeds and garbage that
covered the surface of the water, estimated to be 100 to 150 feet
deep.
After a lengthy rescue effort, Dennison was also lifted out of
the quarry by a crane and taken to the hospital, where he remains in
fair condition.
Based in Rockland, Holly S. Anderson can be reached
at 594-5351 or by email at mailto:holly@VillageSoup.com
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