RCMP investigating tanker crash near Thorburn Lake that damaged a bridge and shut down the TCH

RCMP Cpl Jesse O’Donaghey says the trailer went over the bridge causing extensive damage and into the river.

The Trans Canada Highway was closed in both directions west of Clarenville near Thorburn Lake on Monday and Tuesday due to a crash involving a tractor trailer. Some of the pictures on social media show the debris in the area as a result. RCMP Cpl Jesse O’Donaghey says the trailer went over the bridge causing extensive damage and into the river. The driver was taken to hospital with non life threatening injuries, but then a second commercial vehicle collided with the debris on the bridge after the first crash. 

O’Donaghey says a lot of agencies were involved with the recovery of the tanker and assessment of the bridge. RCMP are investigating the collision. .

Then, yesterday afternoon,  a collision on Route 233 near Bloomfield closed traffic in both areas, and O’Donaghey says this route was actually being used as a detour to get around the earlier crash near Thorburn Lake. 

Meanwhile, Bay St. George RCMP were called out yesterday afternoon to a two-vehicle collision - involving a tractor trailer unit and a pickup truck – about 2 km west of White’s Road (Route 460).  O’Donaghey says that led to a brief closure of the TCH in that area as result of a significant amount of diesel fuel and debris on the highway. 

Road conditions have been unfavourable throughout the province and RCMP encourage drivers to slow down and plan ahead.