Speed cited in Redding fuel tanker crash that forced closures of parks along Sacramento River

January 22, 2022 Trevor Montgomery

REDDING, Calif., — Authorities have cited excessive speed as a primary contributing factor in a solo-vehicle, rollover traffic accident involving a fuel tanker with attached fuel trailer early Friday morning, Jan. 21.

The crash, which punctured the tanks and caused as much as 8,000 gallons of fuel to be spilled – with around 4,000 gallons of a mixture of gasoline and diesel fuel eventually finding its way into the Sacramento River by way of storm drains and the nearby Calaboose Creek, led to the day-long closure of several surrounding streets and a shelter-in-place order for area residents.

Although the spill also forced the closures of several river-front parks downriver from where the accident occurred, most of those parks had been re-opened as of late last night. However, health officials are continuing to caution citizens to steer clear of any areas where the cleanup efforts are continuing.

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City of Redding police and fire personnel were dispatched to the area of Pine Street and Cypress Avenue around 4:30 a.m. after receiving reports of a rollover accident involving a fuel-carrying tanker and trailer, Redding Police Sergeant Michael DiMatteo has since reported.

Responding officials found a tanker truck and its trailer overturned and located the rig’s driver, identified only as a 51-year-old Redding woman. She had sustained minor injuries in the accident and was transported to Mercy Medical Center for further treatment.

Officials from multiple area emergency response agencies work at the scene of yesterday’s early morning crash, which forced the closure of several nearby streets, a shelter-in-place order for area residents, and several river-front parks to be temporarily closed as a precautionary measure. Redding Police Department photo

The fuel tanker was found to be leaking a large quantity of fuel from the punctured tanks, leading officials to call for the immediate closure of several area streets, including portions of East, Locust, Market, and Pine streets, as well as Park Marina Drive and Cypress Avenue.

Additionally, due to concerns of the potential for a fuel-related explosion and the fact that fuel was continuing to make its way into storm drains, a shelter-in-place order was issued for East Street to Park Marina Drive and Locust Street south to Cypress Avenue. Several river-front parks south of the location were also closed due to the spill.

During their subsequent investigation, officers determined the driver had been traveling northbound on Pine Street, north of Cypress Avenue, “at a high rate of speed for the truck and roadway,” according to DiMatteo who went on to say, “A rear tire struck a raised concrete curb and caused the rear tanker to lose control, ultimately causing the truck to roll over.”

Drug and/or alcohol intoxication have both been ruled out as possible contributing factors in the accident, according to the Sergeant.

Redding Police Department photos

With several river-front parks in Tehama County being forced to temporarily close due to the spillage and runoff, Tehama County Environmental Health Director Tim Potanovic said yesterday that the County’s swift response in closing their parks was due to concern that the spill could affect water quality on the river and the dangers posed to anyone coming into contact with the water.

“I mean, 8,000 gallons is pretty massive from a one-point source,” Potanovic said; explaining, “It found the storm drains in Redding, and it emanated from that point source into the water.”

Several agencies are continuing to assist with continuing clean-up and mitigation efforts and California Department of Fish and Wildlife spokesman Steve Gonzalez has said the involved trucking company, SST Trucking, is responsible for all cleanup costs.

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Trevor Montgomery, 50, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS).

Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; the Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County; and Mountain Echo in Shasta County. He is also a regular contributor to Thin Blue Line TV and Law Enforcement News Network and has had his stories featured on news stations throughout the Southern California and North State regions.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 30 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 18 grandchildren.