LAWRENCE COUNTY – Valerie Luchauer, Lawrence County Emergency Management Director, provided updates to her department during the Tuesday Commissioners meeting.
She discussed the issue that arose in Mitchell on Monday, October 3rd when a passenger vehicle crashed into a semi-truck carrying explosive material.
She took the moment to praise the Mitchell Fire Department, and Police Department for their efforts in securing the crash site and evacuating the area for the safety of the community. Mitchell Mayor J.D. England was on-site to help manage the area, while also getting in contact with the ISP Bomb squad, to ensure there would be no issue removing the two vehicles.
The vehicle had crashed into the fuel tank of the semi-truck, but thankfully nothing advanced further, and the vehicles were able to be removed from the roadway safely. Luchauer said everyone involved in the evacuation and safety measures did a great job handling the situation, which could have turned drastic at any point.
Luchauer also discussed the current EMS situation with the announced closure of St. Vincent Dunn Hospital, saying the discussions remain on-going.
