CHIMACUM — A Port Townsend man was airlifted Thursday afternoon to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after the propane truck he was driving crashed into a ditch, and leaked propane vapor.
The propane vapor leak was stopped after about three hours, and the driver was not listed as having been admitted to Harborview as of Thursday evening.
The tank-truck driven by William Beardsley, no age or hometown avaialble, was heading north on West Valley Road just before noon when the vehicle went over the embankment on the east side.
The truck rolled into the front yard of East Jefferson Fire Rescue Chief Chuck Boggs, and trapped Beardsley inside the cab of the truck.
“I was at work when it happened,” Boggs said.
“I sure would have helped him, but it was my neighbor who actually pulled him out.”
Boggs’ neighbor is Pete Brummel, an Eastside Fire-Rescue lieutenant.
Brummel was working on his house with another person when the two heard the horn of the truck. The trapped Beardsley was honking for help.
The two hiked up the road, pulled Beardsley from the vehicle and called emergency 9-1-1.
East Jefferson Fire-Rescue fire fighters and propane company workers to stop the propane vapor leak from the truck’s hose.
West Valley Road was closed for about three hours while workers stopped the leak.
Port Ludlow Fire Rescue Medic Unit transported Beardsley to Jefferson County International Airport, where he was taken by an Airlift Northwest helicopter to Harborview.
According to Undersherrif Tony Hernandez, Beardsley sustained lacerations and trauma to the head.
“The gentleman was stuck in the truck for at least 20 minutes until they got him out,” Hernandez said.
“It was determined he needed to be lifted to Harborview for his head injury.”
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
“The gentleman said the wheels locked up for whatever reason, and that caused him to go off the road,” Hernandez said.
“It is still under investigation however.
“It was a full sized propane truck and it was leaking,” Hernandez said.
“It was not a real safety concern, but it took some time.”
Boggs said damage to his property was minimal.
“It took out some fence, but that was all,” Boggs said.
“I’m not concerned at all.
“There was very little propane leaked and it’s cleaned up now.”
