Vehicles stuck at Newton Rez spillway require Haz-Mat cleanup

An SUV got stuck in the spillway of Newton Reservoir sometime between Saturday night and early Sunday morning. Fire crews from Newton, Cache and Smithfield responded to the area and soon called in the Bear River Health Department to assist in cleaning up gas and oil that spilled into the water. Assistant Chief Greg Fabricius of the Newton Fire Department says the vehicle accessed the restricted area below the reservoir and became trapped in the deep water. Another vehicle attempted to remove the first vehicle and became stuck itself. Reservoir officials were notified of the situation at approximately 5 a.m. Sunday to shut off the flow of water from the reservoir. Fabricius says once the fire department personnel and cleanup equipment were in place, a local towing company completed the removal of the trapped vehicles. Fabricius says a small amount of gas and oil contaminated the water and once the cleanup was complete crews left the scene and the spillway was reopened. Fabricius says further investigation of the case and whether charges will be filed will be handled and determined by the Cache County Sheriff’s Office.

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