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Supervisors praise responders after Copake gas‑tank spill and renew calls for stoplight at dangerous intersection
Summary
Supervisors described a recent Copake accident involving a major gas‑tank spillage, thanked DEC and Hazmat crews for remediation, and urged support for three local businesses cut off by a detour while renewing a long‑standing request for a stoplight at the intersection.
During board business on May 13 a supervisor described a recent accident in Copake that resulted in a major spillage from a gas tank, praised first responders and state environmental and Hazmat teams for cleanup work, and urged residents to support three local businesses cut off by detours.
The supervisor said the incident claimed two lives and called the spill "an ecological disaster with a major spillage from a gas tank," and thanked county staff for signage and detour coordination. He named three affected businesses—Zinnias (a bridal shop), Tommy B’s (a pizzeria) and Random Harvest (a produce market)—and urged community support while detours remain in place. Another supervisor noted the county has sought a traffic signal at the intersection since 2017 and urged renewed pressure on state DOT and DEC to install a stoplight, citing additional access points from a new gas station and recent fatalities as reasons to act.
Board members expressed sympathy for the victims and appreciation for emergency crews involved in remediation. The board did not take a formal vote on traffic improvements during the session; supervisors directed staff to continue coordination with state agencies and to follow up on the stoplight request and detour impacts.
