Officials Clean Up Petroleum Spill In Oak Lawn; Cicero Remains Closed

OAK LAWN, IL -- Cicero Avenue remains closed in parts of Oak Lawn after a petroleum-based product slimed the street Tuesday morning, village officials said. An environmental company is working to clean up the mess before it rains. The incident is no longer considered to be hazmat situation.

A passerby noticed a white box truck traveling northbound on Cicero Avenue, that was carrying several drums of chemicals leaking a large amount of liquid around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. Oak Lawn Village Manager Larry Deetjen said the passerby notified police, who stopped the truck near 98th Street and Cicero Avenue.

The southbound lanes of Cicero Avenue were closed from 103rd the 107th Streets; the northbound lanes continue to be shut down between 103rd to 105th Street. Due the unknown liquid substance the spill was designated a Level I Hazmat, the lowest of the three hazmat levels. The liquid has now been identified as a non-hazardous petroleum-based substance. There is no danger to the public, Deetjen said.

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District was called to the scene due to close proximity of the spill to nearby storm drains. Deetjen did not have an estimated time when Cicero would reopen.

“We just want to make sure it’s cleaned up before it rains,” the village manager said.