Truck Overturns on Route I-95 South Ramp, Spilling 35,000 Pounds of Rubber Bands-September 12, 1981

A Lancaster truck driver escaped with minor injuries yesterday when his 40-foot tractor-trailer carrying 35,000 pounds of rubber bands overturned on the Neponset Street on-ramp to Route I-95 South.

Seven-Hour Ramp Closure and Cleanup

State police closed the on-ramp for nearly seven hours as emergency crews were forced to unload the massive cargo before the rig could be safely towed away. The dramatic spill drew large crowds of curious onlookers onto the Neponset Street overpass.

The driver, identified as Bruno Innerasky, was transported to Norwood Hospital bleeding from the neck. While hospital officials could not immediately release details on his condition, state police reported he was “only scratched” and was held for observation and treatment.

According to Joseph Hamilburg, spokesperson for the Plymouth Rubber Co. in Canton, the truck belonged to the United Transportation Company of Rhode Island. It had departed from the Canton plant loaded with approximately 70 million rubber bands (weighing 35,000 pounds) and was bound for New York.

State police investigators noted that a witness reported the truck did not appear to be speeding; the driver apparently lost control as the heavy rig completed the tight turn on the on-ramp, causing it to tip onto its side.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger