Published Saturday, October 10, 2009

Driver escapes after trash truck overturns, burns

By Elizabeth Melville

The Newnan Times-Herald

A driver managed to escape his CLM Sanitation garbage truck Friday afternoon following a single-vehicle rollover accident in which the truck burst into flames.

The accident occurred on East Newnan Road at East Magnolia Street at approximately 1:45 p.m., according to Capt. Craig Sherrer of the Coweta County Fire Department. The CLM garbage truck left the roadway, rolled over and ended up on its roof.

The driver, who has not been identified, managed to extricate himself from his burning cab before county firefighters arrived on the scene. He was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, according to Sherrer.

Engines 6 and 4 responded, along with another rescue vehicle, to extinguish the fire, which took about 10 minutes to bring under control, according to Sherrer.

The fire erupted from the engine compartment in the front, driver's side and flames quickly filled the cab.