LONDON, Ont. -- A crash on Highbury Avenue southbound, at the Highway 401 overpass, caused significant delays during the morning commute - and beyond - as a complex clean-up got underway.
At about 8 a.m. Monday, crews were dispatched to a crash involving a transport truck (which was not pulling a trailer) and a pickup.
One person was transported to hospital with minor injuries, London Police told CTV News.
As a result of the initial collision, London Fire Department Platoon Chief Gary Mossburger says two light standard were knocked out.
Temporary lights were installed by early afternoon.
But the biggest concern was leaking diesel fuel coming directly from the tank of the transport.
It posed two threats, environmental and fire, according to Mossburger.
“We are dealing with a grade issue here, where the diesel fuel was actually running downhill towards our vehicles. So, we did a very quick containment with our absorbents. Certainly it is a fire hazard.”
To stop the gas from leaking, fire crews initially used duct tape to create a temporary seal around the gas tank. The same tanks were later drained with the help of a towing contractor.
Still, a “significant” amount of diesel fuel spilled, forcing crews to conduct a clean-up.
Initially, there were concerns the fuel had found its way into sensitive areas, but by 10 a.m. Mossburger rulled it out.
“Nothing has actually gotten into the environmental catch basins or the waterways as well.”
