A tanker truck carrying more than 10,000 gallons of fuel overturned Sunday on Highway 22 about 70 miles east of Salem, spilling more than half of its load. An unknown amount was released into the North Santiam River, which provides drinking water for nearby communities and the city of Salem.
Crews recovered about 2,830 gallons of diesel by Sunday evening.
A hazardous materials team and emergency cleanup crew from Oregon Department of Environmental Quality were on the scene to pump remaining fuel out of the truck and to prevent more fuel from entering the river.
As of Monday morning, the highway remains closed in both directions at milepost 68 as crews work to contain the site. The Oregon Department of Transportation advises motorists to avoid the area and find alternate routes until further notice. Check Tripcheck.com for updates.
According to reports the truck, owned by Space Age Fuel, was carrying a variety of fuels in two tanks. The trailer tank held 6,500 gallons of gasoline which has been released and the truck tank held 4,100 gallons of diesel.
Preliminary indications are that all 6,500 gallons of the gasoline was spilled.
Fuel from the trailer tank was released into a roadside ditch and some seeped into the river.
Health officials are notifying downstream drinking water system providers of the spill.
