Gas Tanker Spill On Hwy 1 In Sonoma County: Roadway Partially Reopened

SONOMA COUNTY, CA -- UPDATED: One-way traffic control will remain in effect until Friday on State Highway 1 near Salt Point State Park in Sonoma County after a gas tanker truck overturned Tuesday night, spilling fuel on the roadway. Earlier Wednesday, Caltrans said the highway would remain closed at the scene until Friday in both directions. However, the state agency now reports the roadway has partially reopened, with one-way traffic control under way through 2 p.m. Friday.

The tanker spill was first reported at 10:37 p.m. Tuesday just north of the entrance to the state park. A Sig-alert was issued about an hour later because the highway was closed in both directions.

According to CHP reports, the truck was carrying about 6,000 gallons of gasoline and 2,500 gallons of diesel when it crashed. At 9:22 a.m. Wednesday, transfer of the remaining fuel to another truck had been completed. The next step would be to upright the truck, followed by cleanup of the roadway, CHP reported.

Roughly 1,500 gallons of fuel leaked out of a ruptured tank. It didn't get into a waterway, but the trucking company hired a cleanup contractor and dispatched another truck to recover the remaining fuel.

Sonoma County's hazardous materials team assisted by performing a "stinger operation," puncturing the overturned tank and transferring the remaining fuel inside to another truck. They'll remain on scene to observe as the cleanup continues.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

Photo via California Department of Fish and Wildlife Office of Spill Prevention and Response/Twitter