Crashes on Route 93 cost a lot of money, especially when a large emergency response is required.

Expenses can soar into the thousands of dollars quickly, depending on the amount of time needed and types of equipment used for the cleanup.Between March 31 and April 2, Nesquehoning police, fire crews and ambulance, and Zeniers Towing responded to three tractor-trailer crashes within the borough limits.At each crash, three fire companies, at least two police officers and Nesquehoning and Hometown fire police responded to the scene.The first one took approximately six hours to clear, while the second and third took about half that time.RoniSue Ahner, secretary/treasurer for the borough, said the bill for the borough's response for incidents involving a tractor-trailer usually range between $3,000 and $5,000 depending on the number of fire and rescue vehicles needed and the amount cleanup.Costs for police overtime and other expenses could also push the bill higher in some incidents.Towing costs are also additional based on the time and amount of service that is necessary.In the first crash, multiple flatbeds and two wreckers were used to move the nine vehicles that were damaged.But who is responsible for paying the final bills?According to Nesquehoning's Emergency Abatement Vehicular Accident Ordinance, any person who causes an emergency situation will be responsible for all costs associated with the cleanup efforts and emergency response and labor costs for personnel, equipment, operation and towing.Rates range from $45 per bag for an absorbent material if a spill occurs to as much as $350 per hour if a rescue or aerial engine is required.Additional fees not given a specific hourly rate in the ordinance but also included in the final invoice are costs incurred by the police department or fire departments and any organization, contractor or towing company needed for the response.That means the driver and the trucking company involved in each crash will be charged for the incident response to recover the expenses that were incurred.In 2013, a small box truck lost control, swerving into a utility pole and into a porch on a home on the 300 block of East Catawissa Street.The borough filed for $12,000 in reimbursement from the company to cover all costs associated with the incident.Nesquehoning Hose Company, West End Mahanoy City, Lansford, Summit Hill, Hometown fire companies, Lehighton Ambulance, Nesquehoning Ambulance, Carbon Engineering, Salvation Army, Panther Valley Lumber and borough solicitor Robert Yurchak incurred costs.According to an article published in the Times News in 2015, the borough eventually took the company to court and was awarded approximately $3,000 in 2014, but appealed the decision.The borough finally received $5,500 through arbitration to help partially reimburse the entities involved in the emergency response and pay the outstanding bills that remained.