Hit-And-Run Crash Causes Fuel Spill, Blocks Lakeville Highway: PD

PETALUMA, CA — Police were seeking an SUV driver accused of fleeing the scene of a collision with a big rig late last week on Lakeville Highway in Petaluma.

The crash, which resulted in a fuel spill, was reported at 1:30 a.m. Thursday at the intersection of Lakeville Highway and Pine View Way, the Petaluma Police Department said.

Officers found the driver of a red Nissan Xterra crashed into a diesel tank that was being hauled by a big rig, Petaluma police Sgt. Matthew Parnow said.

"The collision caused a large amount of diesel to leak from the tank onto the roadway," Parnow said.

A passenger in the big rig was taken to a hospital with injuries.

The driver of the SUV, described as a white man with long hair, walked away from the scene of the crash before officers got there, Parnow said.

"Officers conducted an extensive search of the area and were unable to locate the driver," Parnow said. "Due to the collision and the diesel spilling onto the roadway, Lakeville Highway was closed for an extended period of time for cleanup efforts."

An estimated 65 gallons of diesel fuel spilled onto the roadway.

Lakeville Highway was closed for nearly three hours while personnel with the Petaluma Fire Department, Petaluma Public Works, Caltrans and Sonoma County Hazmat worked on the spill cleanup, Parnow said.

Police asked anyone who witnessed the collision or the driver who fled from it to call 707-778-4372.