Mother Mourns Loss of NH Truck Driver
MY PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE STAELENS FAMILY
BOSTON — Police say Aaron Staelens of Richmond, N.H. died of the injuries he sustained in a fiery crash Friday in Chicopee, Mass.
Meantime, officials in Massachusetts announced on Saturday that a driver involved in the explosive tanker crash on I-91 is being charged.
Victor Aponte from Holyoke, M.A. faces three charges including negligent motor vehicle homocide.
In a statement released Saturday, spokesperson for Abenaqui Carriers said, ” All of us were saddened to learn of the passing of Aaron Staelens. Aaron Staelens has been a respected driver in the tanker truck industry for more than 15 years. Our thoughts are with Aaron’s family during this difficult time.”
State Police said the incident happened at about 9:38 a.m. on Route 91 between exit 11 and exit 13. It started when a 1995 Subaru Impreza driven by Victor Aponte, 35, of Holyoke, Mass., entered Route 91 north from the onramp at Route 391 south, lost control, went across the road and struck a 2002 Nissan Altima in the left travel lane that was operated by Holly Binczewski, 22, of Ware, Mass.
A 2006 Peterbilt tractor-trailer driven by Staelens was traveling in the right travel lane of Route 91 north behind and to the right of the Altima. When the Altima was struck by the Subaru, the tractor-trailer struck the Subaru and veered off the right side of the roadway, striking the guardrail and a sign.
Upon striking the guardrail, the trailer separated from the truck cab, and both became engulfed in flames. The trailer then rolled over the guardrail and down an embankment. The tractor-trailer was transporting approximately 9,600 gallons of gasoline and 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel.
“The cab stayed up on the highway, but it was engulfed in flames and it was incredible that several bystanders got out of their cars, as well as two nearby workers, and pulled the driver out of a burning cab. Got him stabilized on the ground until the paramedics could come,” Chicopee Mayor Michael Bissonette said.
A plume of thick, black smoke from the wreckage could be seen miles away from the accident as fire crews tried to get the blaze under control. Personnel from nearby Westover Air Force base were called on to help quell the flames.
The Subaru was then struck from the rear by a 1998 Chrysler Concorde operated by Algis Gavelis, 35, of Agawam.
Staelens was transported by ambulance to Bay State Medical Center with serious injuries. The hospital confirmed that Staelens was brought to the Springfield hospital, where officials said he was suffering from burns to more than 60 percent of his body. Staelens was transferred to Massachusetts General where he later died.
Staelens worked for Abenaqui Carriers of North Hampton.
The company issued a statement Friday afternoon saying it appeared the driver was trying to avoid a collision when the crash occurred.
“It appears the tanker driver was taking evasive action to avoid what may have been a disabled vehicle and that action caused the tanker to rollover. The tanker was in the right travel lane. It appears that speed was not a factor,” the company said in a prepared statement.
A passenger in the Subaru, Louisa Fonseca, 43, of Holyoke, was transported by ambulance to Bay State Medical Center with minor injuries.
The crash forced offiicals to close all Route 91 north and south lanes for a period earlier Friday.
Bisonette said there were remaining questions about the structural safety of the bridge where the accident occurred that were keeping the northbound side closed.
He added that the crash and fuel spill may have caused environmental issues for the nearby Connecticut River.
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