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Cleanup efforts are ongoing in Craryville following a tragic crash that resulted in a significant fuel spill. On Thursday, April 16, a Subaru driven by John Piwowarski, 78, collided with a tanker truck at the intersection of Route 7 and Route 23. Piwowarski was pronounced dead at the scene, while his wife, Janet K. Piwowarski, 76, died later at Columbia Memorial Hospital. The tanker, owned by GRJH, Inc., was carrying approximately 7,000 gallons of gasoline, of which 3,000 to 3,500 gallons spilled into the surrounding area, including a tributary to the Taghkanic Creek.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is overseeing the cleanup, working with the Miller Environmental Group to address the contamination. The DEC has placed oil absorbent booms around the crash site to prevent further migration of gasoline into nearby waters. According to the DEC, there are no known impacts to local drinking water wells, but the agency is monitoring the situation closely.
The crash has raised concerns among residents, including Jamie Carano of Save Craryville, who has been testing water samples for contamination. Carano, who has extensive knowledge of local hydrology, believes the fuel may have seeped into the area's shallow water table. Carano expressed concerns about the potential long-term environmental impacts and questioned why the area was not evacuated.
The DEC continues to coordinate with state and local emergency personnel to ensure the protection of human health and the environment. The cleanup is expected to be an ongoing effort as the agency works to mitigate any ecological impacts. Copake Supervisor Richard Wolf noted the active presence of trucks and equipment at the site as efforts to recapture the spilled gasoline continue.