KENTVILLE – Highway 101 has reopened in Kentville after closing when a transport truck became trapped and its container was blocking the road.
The Kentville Volunteer Fire Department and Kings District RCMP were called to the scene around 12:30 p.m. on June 25 after the truck’s wheels lodged into the gravel shoulder on the embankment near exit 13 heading westbound.
With its container angled out into oncoming traffic, firefighters quickly closed all three lanes of highway at highway marker 217.
The incident was not caused by hydroplaning, despite the day’s heavy rain. The driver, who felt ill, attempted to pull over onto the highway shoulder but became stuck as he did so, according to Martin.
“It was a soft shoulder, so he just got over a little too far. That’s all that contributed to this incident,” said Martin.
After a tow truck arrived to pull the transport vehicle back onto the pavement, Martin and other department members inspected the truck’s wheels and undercarriage before giving it the all clear to continue driving.
“Once it was back on the road we just went over and did the once over to make sure there were no fluids leaking and that it was safe to travel, and then we turned it back over to the driver,” he said.
The truck sustained no damage from the incident and was cleared to continue driving by 1 p.m.
A Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal employee examined the shoulder and declared it safe before the highway was reopened at 1:15.
This was the department’s first vehicle-related call of the day, but Martin advised drivers to remain cautious since rain is expected to continue throughout the day.
“But with the heavy rain, you always have to watch for [hydroplaning],” he said.
