Driver Walks Away from Horrific Accident

Van Smashes into Utility Pole on Borden Avenue

By Conor Greene

The driver of a van transporting refrigeration equipment walked away from a serious accident on Borden Avenue in Maspeth last week with just bumps and bruises and a cut on his lower lip, according to witnesses.

A van owned by Blake Refrigeration of the Bronx was being driven east on Borden Avenue by Jonathan Delvalle when it collided with a 1997 Toyota driven by Matthew Tumminello, 30, of East Meadow last Wednesday afternoon, according to police.

Delvalle, 26, of Ridgewood, was turning right onto Maurice Avenue when the van was sideswiped by the Toyota, which was changing lanes, said police. The refrigeration van slammed into a utility pole, crushing the front passenger side of the vehicle, according to witnesses. Neither driver was issued a summons, and the Toyota was driven from the scene, said police.

Since the van was carrying refrigeration materials and equipment including bottles of nitrogen, the FDNY responded to the scene and removed the items from the vehicle. The Department of Transportation has since replaced the broken light pole.

Roland Delgado, a service manager at Blake Refrigeration, said this week that Delvalle suffered some bumps and bruises in the accident, but is doing good. “Miraculously, he got out in one piece with just some bruises,” said Delgado. “It was a horrible accident, but he’s back on his feet, doing good.”

Delgado said that the materials being transported was not hazardous and didn’t pose a threat. “It was Freon, nitrogen tanks, normal stuff used in air conditioning,” he said. “There was no threat whatsoever.” He said Delvalle was on his way home at the time of the accident.

Caption: Firefighters respond to the intersection of Borden and Maurice avenues after a van carrying refrigeration materials and equipment (inset) slammed into a utility pole. The van sustained heavy front-end damage, but the driver escaped with minor injuries. Photos by Robert Holden