After Tanker Crash, Inspections Moved from MA Chief's Shop

Oct. 16, 2023

Sandisfield Fire Chief Ralph Morrison said the brakes on the 1988 Mack weren't inspected.

After the recent rollover of the Sandisfield Fire Department tanker, town officials have decided emergency vehicle inspections won't be done in the chief's shop.

The brakes failed on the 1988 Mack 600 RDS, causing it to overturn as it was headed to a fire on Sept. 26, according to The Berkshire Eagle.

No charges or citations were issued by Massachusetts State Police. But, one of the select board members he would request the agency's commercial vehicle enforcement division to determine why the brakes failed.

The 2,500-gallon tanker was purchased Sept. 4, 2019, and had only one safety inspection on May 29, 2020. Reports indicated it passed for safety issues but failed the emissions test.

Officials found eight trips to the chief's shop over the years, but brakes were never mentioned.

"I don't know why it got missed but it got missed," Chief Ralph Morrison said of the annual state inspections. “Got missed. Can’t argue."

He added that the tanker had only been driven about 1,000 miles since the town purchased it.