KENZIEVILLE – A pillar of oily black smoke reaching hundreds of feet into the air marked the spot where two motorists died in a noon-hour crash on Wednesday.
The drivers were killed when a tractor trailer, believed to be carrying used oil, and a pickup truck collided on Highway 104 near Kenzieville.
RCMP say they received the 911 call around 12:30 p.m.
Cpl. Andrew Joyce said they believe the tractor trailer was westbound while the pickup truck was headed eastbound.
"We have two fatalities.… Details of how the collision occurred of course is under investigation and will be for some time. We're waiting for it to be safe and to remove the emergency vehicles in order for our specialists to access the scene."
The tractor trailer plunged down a steep embankment off the highway and came to rest not far from the Barney's River. The pickup truck came to rest on the opposite side of the highway farther down the road eastbound but was pointing back the way it came.
A trail of blackened debris, including wheels with the tires burnt off them, led to the spot where the truck went over the bank.
At times the fire seemed to be dying down but then would flare up again and remain just as strong.
Truck drivers who were parked nearby waiting to leave the scene after being held up in the traffic said they had heard the pickup truck was driving erratically.
Cpl. Joyce didn't give any credibility to the talk.
"Once again with incidents like this there's always rumours," he said. "There may be validity to some and not validity to others."
He said he wasn't sure how long it would take for the whole incident to be wrapped up and the highway reopened.
"I would be really reaching out to guess when we're through. It may be longer, may be shorter. For this to continue overnight wouldn't surprise me. But once again that would be speculation."
Not long after that statement the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal issued a press release saying that Highway 104 between Exit 27 in Sutherlands River and Exit 29 in Barney's River is closed overnight because of the collision with traffic detoured along Trunk 4 highway.
Fire crews were standing by at the scene but Merigomish Fire Department Chief Paul Schnurr said they had decided to let the fire run its course.
"We're trying to stay upwind out of the smoke and just allow it to burn off. We figure that's the safest thing."
One concern was the nearby Barney's River and the potential for contamination.
"If we started to fight it with water we are afraid that would wash the oil right into the river.… As it burns up it leaves the area."
Schnurr said he was unsure of how long the fire would last or how much the tanker was carrying.
"From what we can tell, the maximum it would have would be 10,000 litres on it. I don't know how fast that would burn off but it seems to be starting to slow up a bit."
He said that any hotspots that have been flaring up away from the main fire area were knocked back to keep it from spreading into the woods. The wind was helping with that, he added, by blowing toward the road and away from the trees.
Barney's River, Merigomish, Little Harbour, Thorburn, Linacy, New Glasgow haz mat, Special Hazardous response out of Bible Hill, a crew from an Antigonish County fire department and DNR firefighters were on scene with a truck from Plymouth standing by in Sutherlands River.
A representative from the Department of the Environment was also on hand to monitor the situation.
The names of the drivers were not released and Cpl. Joyce said anyone with information on the collision is asked to contact the Pictou District RCMP.
For video and a slideshow from the scene go to www.ngnews.ca.
That sir... is an uneducated comment. It would not have mattered if the truck was carrying lumber to build a house.. Really !!