De-icer truck tips on Albion Road

Brandon Kruger, Whitman County roads operation manager, reported to county commissioners Monday about a de-icing truck which turned over on Albion Road last Tuesday, Nov. 26, in the lead-up to the Thanksgiving travel weekend.

Spreading de-icing magnesium chloride, the truck arrived at a continuously-shaded part of Albion Road, and the driver switched to a higher rate of dispersion for the de-icer.

Instead, it dropped to a lower rate. While toggling the handle, trying to figure out what went wrong, the driver swerved, over-corrected and tipped the truck on its side. A passer-by stopped and found the driver unhurt, helping him get out of the truck. No injuries were reported.

Damage to the truck may or may not exceed the county Public Works Department’s $5,000 insurance deductible, according to Mark Storey, public works director.

“It doesn’t appear that our mag tank was harmed in any way,” said Kruger.

He indicated they hope to fix the truck as soon as possible to be able to be used in snowplow operations.