Machine falls into ditch

City of Yuma officials said a machine that’s used for “milling” – churning old asphalt – slipped into the trench that was dug on the northern edge of the roadway for underground pipe work Wednesday morning.

Dave Nash with the City of Yuma said this was between Avenue A and 8 th Avenue, near the Woodard Junior High School gymnasium.

Due to the size of the machine, a large crane had to be called in to move it.

Nash said the machine did spill some diesel fuel that was completely contained in the hole. However, it was enough fuel that it did leave a strong odor that would have been noticeable to neighbors in the immediate area.

Nash said the fuel did not leak into the City’s storm water drainage system. The contractor is handling the fuel issue in accordance with protocols established by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ).

No injuries were reported to us from the scene of this incident.