Franklin firefighters roll pick-up on icy Rte. 140 in Belmont

Published Date

BELMONT — Two Franklin Firefighter trainees escaped serious injury Tuesday at 11 p.m. when the truck they were driving skidded on black ice on Route 140 and rolled over on to its roof.
Franklin Deputy Fire Chief Robert Goodearl II said yesterday that the Belmont Fire Department had to extract both men from the truck. He said both were wearing seat belts and the driver was suspended from the ceiling for about one-half hour while the passenger was partially ejected.
He said both were taken by ambulance to Lakes Region General Hospital in Laconia for treatment of what ended up being minor injuries and later released. Belmont Fire Department said Laconia sent an ambulance.
"Belmont did a great job of stabilizing the truck and getting them out safely," Goodearl said.
Franklin Fire Chief Kevin LaChapelle, who went to the scene when he was notified, said yesterday that "our department was blessed with a positive outcome last night."
"As I stood on the scene in observance I was extremely impressed with the Belmont Fire Department," he continued.
Goodearl said the two were returning from a weekly training class held in Strafford. He said the pickup is a total loss.
Crp. Steve Akerstrom of the Belmont Police said yesterday many area roads were "very bad" Tuesday night from the freezing rain and the police department responded to a few accidents, though most of them were minor.