MARCH 10, 2015
I-95, LAUREL/ BELTSVILLE, MARYLAND
Interstate 95 is closed in both directions in the Laurel
area after officials said a tanker truck carrying diesel fuel overturned across
southbound lanes. (AP)
Updated at 1:22 p.m.
The northbound lanes of Interstate 95 near Beltsville have
reopened, following an accident which caused a tanker truck to spill about
1,000 gallons of biodiesel fuel onto the road. The southbound lanes are still
closed, the Maryland State Highway Administration tweeted.
Updated at 12:45 p.m.
Officials with the Maryland State Highway Administration
said delays on the southbound side of Interstate 95 near Beltsville where a
tanker truck overturned and spilled about 1,000 gallons of biodiesel fuel on
the road are slowly starting to improve.
The interstate is shut down in both directions, and it is
not clear exactly when it will reopen.
The tanker flipped on its side around 10:30 a.m. on the
southbound side of Interstate 95, south of MD 198. It was not immediately clear
what caused the tanker to crash, authorities said. Typically, these tanker trucks flip because
of evasive maneuvers, sudden application of the breaks if another car suddenly
cuts the tanker off, sloshing of the liquid load, making a turn with improper
speed, and so on.
Around noon, Maryland highway officials said it is likely
that the northbound side of the interstate will reopen first.
The traffic delays were starting to ease. On the southbound
side of the interstate, traffic was backed up for three miles. Shortly after
the incident, traffic was backed up for about eight miles, officials said.
Drivers are advised to avoid the area, and authorities are
diverting traffic to Route 29, US 1 or the Baltimore-Washington Parkway.
A second tanker truck had arrived and was working to offload
fuel from the overturned truck.
The 7,500 gallon tanker truck crashed on its side. Crews
were working to contain and clean up the spill. The driver of the truck is said
to be okay, officials said. Two people suffered minor injuries in the incident.
Traffic is backed up for at least three miles and the
interstate is shut down.
Drivers are advised to avoid the area.
Updated at 11:23 a.m.
Authorities said minor injuries were reported after 1,000
gallons of bio-diesel fuel leaked onto Interstate 95 near Route 200 in Beltsville.
Crews were working to contain the spill, according to the Prince George’s
County Fire department.
I95 update – Minor injuries reported – Approx 1000 gallon
section of Tanker of Bio-Diesel leaking. Crews containing run-off.
— PGFD PIO (@PGFDNews) March 10, 2015
In a press release, officials from the Maryland State
Highway Administration said state and local police and the Maryland Department
of Environment, along with other agencies are responding to the incident.
Southbound traffic on the I-95 is being diverted to MD-198.
On the northbound side of the interstate, traffic is being diverted to Md 212.
Traffic along I-95 is backed up about eight miles.
Authorities suggest drivers avoid the area and take US 29,
MD 295 and US 1 as alternate routes.
Updated at 11:03 a.m.
Authorities said the cleanup is starting after an overturned
tanker truck spilled fuel on Interstate 95 near Route 200 in Beltsville. In a
Twitter message, Mark Brady, a spokesman for the Prince George’s County Fire
Department, said that the leak had been stopped and the cleanup was beginning.
Haz Mat on SB I-95 btw RT 198 and ICC. Overturned tanker.
Leak stopped. Starting clean-up. Follow @PGFDNews for updates
— Mark Brady (@PGFDPIO) March 10, 2015
Original post at 10:46 a.m. Authorities said an overturned
tanker truck on Interstate 95 south at Route 200 near Beltsville is causing
part of the roadway in that area to be closed. It is not immediately clear what
caused the crash and it was not known how long the delays would last. Hazmat
units have been requested to respond to the area. Highway officials said just
before 11 a.m. that all north- and southbound lanes of I-95 in that area are
blocked. Traffic is being diverted to MD-198.
Source: www.washingtonpost.com