By DENISE A. RAYMO
Staff Writer
May 15, 2008 04:00 am
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DeKALB -- A Burke man was not hurt Monday when the tractor trailer he was driving burst into flames after being struck by a vehicle that crossed into his path.
Ronald G. Flynn, 53, of 346 Burke-Bellmont Town Line Road, was driving a 2007 Volvo tractor trailer north on Route 11 in the Town of DeKalb about 10:05 p.m. when a Dodge Caravan driven by Jean M. Merritt, 66, of Redwood, crossed into his lane, St. Lawrence County sheriff's deputies said.
Flynn tried to maneuver the rig full of cardboard out of the way, but the tractor trailer struck the passenger side of the van, deputies said.
Both fuel tanks on the tractor trailer ruptured on impact and burst into flames, engulfing first the cab then the rest of the tractor trailer.
Flynn escaped and was not injured, authorities said.
Merritt was freed from the wreckage by members of the Richville Fire Department, who transported her to Claxton Hepburn Medical Center in Ogdensburg.
She broke both lower bones of her right leg in the crash and was later transferred to Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse for further treatment, deputies said.
During the crash, deputies said, a piece of the tractor trailer snapped off and passed through the passenger side of the van so if anyone would've been riding there, they would've been impaled.
Richville firefighters and rescue personnel were assisted by State Police officers and members of the Canton, DeKalb and Hermon volunteer fire departments.
DeKalb is six miles southwest of Canton.
No tickets were issued, but the investigation is continuing.
draymo@pressrepublican.com
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