3,200 Gallons of Fuel Spilled on I-4 After Crash

A late Tuesday evening crash on Interstate 4 resulted in the closing of eastbound lanes for several hours after an estimated 3,200 gallons of fuel spilled onto the roadway.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, three vehicles were heading east on I-4 around 10:30 p.m. near mile marker two when a Dodge pickup driven by Dwight Santana, 46, of Riverview changed lanes. Santana’s lane change put him into the path of a Mustang driven by Jesus Torres, 19, of Thonotosassa. A collision occurred that also involved a tanker truck driven by Wash Tate Jr., 43, of Ocoee.

Tate’s tanker, the patrol said, was transporting 8,600 gallons of fuel at the time of the crash. About 3,200 gallons spilled onto the road, forcing the closing of eastbound lanes. The road didn’t fully reopen until 5 a.m., a highway patrol report stated.

Santana was ticketed for making an improper lane change.

Tate and Santana were not injured in the crash, but Torres was taken to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries, the patrol’s report stated.

Photo courtesy of the Florida Highway Patrol