Long Island Expressway Reopens Following Fuel Spill

Three eastbound lanes on the Long Island Expressway were closed for several hours after a truck spilled fuel across two lanes Tuesday afternoon, Suffolk Police said.

The truck carrying construction material was traveling eastbound on the LIE near Exits 48 and 49 at 12:10 p.m. when the vehicle's drive shaft broke and pierced the fuel tank, according to fire officials.

The spill caused the eastbound LIE lanes to be completely shut down between Round Swamp Road and Route 110 for an extended period of time, fire officials say. The lanes reopened at 3:30 p.m.

About 25 fire and rescue personnel responded to the scene. The Melville Fire Department was at the spill with three trucks and an ambulance while the Hicksville Fire Department Hazardous Materials Team was called in to assist with the spill.

New York State Department of Transportation arrived with sand to contain the spill and the Department of Environmental Conservation responded to check for environmental damage.

Photos Courtesy Melville Fire Dept.