The Nassau County Legislature honored the brave men and women of the Rockville Centre Fire Department and Police Department who risked their lives and safety to help keep last week’s tanker crash under control.
Just after 1 AM in the early morning hours of February 16th, a tanker crashed into the LA-Z-BOY Furniture store on Sunrise Highway in Rockville Centre, collapsing the building and setting the structure ablaze. For hours, the Rockville Centre Fire Department and neighboring departments worked to put the fire out. A Rockville Centre Police Officer on the scene early was able to pull the driver from the car and save his life. Multiple agencies, including the Nassau County Fire Marshals, the Office of Emergency Management and the Coast Guard aided the Rockville Centre departments, and helped contain the crisis. Environmental remediation also took place due to gasoline entering manholes and the sewer system. Miraculously, due to their efforts, no one was killed.
“I am proud to honor the men and women of the Rockville Centre Police and Fire Departments for their part in saving lives and keeping the danger under control,” said Legislator Bill Gaylor, whose district includes this part of Rockville Centre. “Due to their quick thinking and actions, they stopped what could have been a disaster of immense scale. Thank you.”
“Our police and fire departments do so much for us, and it is imperative that they know we appreciate their efforts,” Deputy Presiding Officer Howard Kopel said. “This could have been a terrible disaster, and thankfully, the Rockville Centre Police Department and Fire Departments were able to keep the crisis under control and make sure not one life was lost. Thank you for all you do.”
The Mayor of Rockville Centre, Francis X. Murray, along with the RVC Police Inspector James Romance, Fire Chief James Avondet, Assistant Fire Chief Anthony Rugolo and Village Administrator Nancy Howard accepted the citations for both departments.