Semi truck crashes down 20 foot drop off, ends up in reservoir

A truck driver survived but was forced to swim to safety after losing control and crashing into a reservoir in Vermont on Monday.

The incident occurred shortly before 9 a.m. on July 3 in Wilmington, Vermont.

According to Wilmington Police Department, Vermont, 53 year old New York-based truck driver David Miller was operating a 2020 Mack Truck towing an empty 53’ box refrigerated trailer when he “traveled off the travel portion of VT Route 9 for approximately 300 ft, crossing over Oxbow Loop, and proceeded off a 20’ drop, coming to rest in Harriman Reservoir.”

During the crash, the tractor disconnected from the trailer.

“The tractor sunk in the reservoir ending up submerged under approximately 20’ of water. The operator was able to exit the vehicle on his own, and swam to the shoreline where he was holding onto a tree,” Wilmington Police said.

The empty box trailer was floating in the reservoir when first responders arrived on the scene.

Miller was rescued and transported to a hospital for treatment of his injuries.

Both the truck and trailer were hoisted out of the water by 5 p.m. on July 3.

The crash remains under investigation.