Overturned Tanker Truck Shuts Down Part Of Beltway For Hours

BETHESDA, MD — All lanes along the inner loop of I-495 have reopened after an overturned tanker truck leaking fuel snarled traffic Thursday afternoon.

According to state and local officials, the truck — which was carrying approximately 8,500 gallons of gasoline — flipped on its side on the American Legion Memorial Bridge around 2 p.m. It is unclear what caused the crash.

Three other vehicles were involved in the crash, said Fairfax Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief John Price. One driver suffered minor injuries.

Thursday afternoon's incident shut down the Capital Beltway's inner loop. Emergency crews from both Maryland and Virginia spent hours cleaning up the gasoline spill, closing the left two lanes on I-495's outer loop at the bridge. Those outer loop lanes reopened Thursday evening.

UPDATE - Overturned tanker truck closes all but left shoulder on the inner loop I-495 just prior to the Montgomery Co. line. #mdotnews #mdtraffic cg pic.twitter.com/jeLvLo0ufE
— MD State Highway Adm (@MDSHA) March 28, 2019

Units are on scene of a hazardous materials incident on I495 NORTH BOUND/Prior to Georgetown Pike/American Legion Bridge. Tanker truck on side actively leaking fuel. SEEK AN ALTERNATE ROUTE! Incident expected to last two hours minimum. #FCFRD #traffic #news pic.twitter.com/qNtnK7iHaH
— Fairfax Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) March 28, 2019

Officials initially thought cleaning would wrap up around 10 p.m. Then, the estimate moved to 1 a.m. All lanes on the Inner Loop reopened around 3 a.m.