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Cops: Driver falls asleep at wheel, crashes into gas pump at Mattituck Empire

A driver in a pickup truck fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into a gas pump at the Empire Station in Mattituck  Thursday night, police said.

According to Southold Town police, the accident took place at 11:23 p.m. when West N. Ruroede, 55, of Greenport was heading west on Route 25 near the Empire station on Bray Avenue and Route 25 when his truck crossed the eastbound lane, left the roadway, and struck a gasoline pump at the station.

The impact severed the pump from its base, causing a minor gasoline leak, before the emergency shut off valve activated and prevented a larger spill, police said.

The crash also caused the canopy above the pump to collapse onto the truck, police said. Ruroede stated at the scene that he had fallen asleep, police said.

Ruroede was treated and transported by Mattituck rescue squad to Eastern Long Island Hospital for treatment of apparently minor injuries; the truck and the canopy were removed by JET towing, police said.

 

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