Banana truck to blame for Grist Mill Tavern destruction

February 24, 2016 3:53 pm

By News Staff

Reporting by Kainani Stevens

kstevens@abc6.com

More details are coming out about the massive accident and fire in 2012 that destroyed the Old Grist Mill Tavern in Seekonk. A lawyer for the restaurant is now saying bananas are to blame.

"There is a reason there are songs and stories about all this. It’s because banana truck accidents are a very real thing," says David Salvatore, attorney for the Old Grist Mill Tavern.

Salvatore says bananas are what caused the devastating fire back in 2012. A Chiquita Banana truck carrying 30,000 pounds of the fruit tipped over on the long turn, taking out a gas line and destroying the historic restaurant.

This is still a current issue, as a banana truck tipped over just last weekend in Freetown, Massachusetts.

"You get the container tipping, tipping, a little bit at a time, and then it eventually goes over," explains Salvatore.

The wide turn at the corner of Arcade and Fall River Avenues is no stranger to accidents, and that 2012 accident is part of the reason the area is now under construction.

"I understand the road has been widened and cars have gotten faster, but the Grist Mill hasn’t moved. The road has been moving closer to the Grist Mill," says owner, Greg Esmay.

The Grist Mill is currently suing the Chiquita Banana company for improperly loading their trucks and Columbia Gas for placing their gas line in the curve of the road. But so far, settlement talks have gone nowhere.

"We didn’t think this would be a huge problem but it is turning into one for sure," adds Esmay.

ABC6 News reached out to Columbia Gas who say they could not comment on current litigation. Chiquita Banana did not immediately return our calls.