Tense moments today as a truck carrying propane begins leaking after accident

The Texas Department of Public Safety, Burkeville Volunteer Fire Department, and Lake Rayburn Volunteer Fire Department were called out to an accident involving a propane truck on state Hwy 87, near CR 2159 in Newton County today at approximately 1:41 pm.

Photos courtesy of Lake Rayburn Volunteer Fire Department as the truck was being set up -right

DPS Media Sergeant Shana Clark said, "A 2017 Kenworth truck hauling propane was traveling south on 87. It is reported that the driver was traveling at a speed which was unsafe during a period of rainy weather and hydroplaned into the east ditch where it overturned. After the crash, the truck began to leak propane, however Sam Rayburn Fire and Burkeville Fire were able to close the valves and stop the discharge of gas and it was eventually offloaded to another tank".

The driver of the Kenworth, identified as 53-year-old Joseph Sutton of Jasper, was transported to Jasper Memorial Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

As of 5 pm this evening, the truck was in the process of being uprighted after an unloading effort failed.

Additional information will be released as it becomes available.