Associated Press , KUSA 8:41 PM. MDT August 26, 2016
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) - A tanker truck crash in Colorado Springs has spilled thousands of gallons of gasoline into a creek, killing a slew of fish.
The Gazette reports the truck hit a parked vehicle in the southern part of the city and rolled onto its side Friday morning, spilling about 8,000 gallons of fuel into Fountain Creek.
Kyle Davidson, a spokesman for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, says cleanup crews were pulling dead fish out of the creek "by the bucket."
The agency expects to know exactly how many fish were killed and which species were most affected in a few days. The creek is home to numerous fish, including longnose dace, white suckers and fathead minnows.
The Environmental Protection Agency is using vacuum trucks to suck up the gasoline.
Police believe speed played a role in the crash.
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Motor City in Colorado Springs reopens Friday after fuel spill
Tanker overturns in front of dealership, driver taken to hospital
Scott Harrison, Multimedia Journalist, s.harrison@krdo.com
POSTED: 07:58 AM MDT Aug 26, 2016 UPDATED: 09:37 PM MDT Aug 26, 2016
Fuel Spill Shuts Down Motor City in Colorado Springs Friday
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -
An area of auto dealerships and related businesses reopened Friday afternoon, more than nine hours after an overturned tanker spilled thousands of gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel.
Fountain Creek was threatened by Friday's fuel spill in Colorado Springs.
Authorities urged people to avoid contact with Fountain Creek after Friday's fuel spill. This is the Hanson Trailhead in Fountain.
The spill happened around 4 a.m. on Motor City Drive in front of the Suss Superstore on Motor City Drive in south Colorado Springs.
"I was parked behind him," said a delivery driver who witnessed the crash. "He went around a curve and was going too fast."
Authorities cited speed as an apparent factor.
The tanker flipped after striking a parked, unoccupied vehicle, authorities said, and slid into a curb, spilling fuel from ruptured compartments inside the tanker.
Authorities said when they arrived, fuel was draining into the stormwater system through a nearby storm drain.
Part of Motor City Drive was closed because of the risk of explosions.
"We think the tanker was holding 8,000 gallons and the cleanup crew recovered around 1,000 gallons," said Capt. Steve Wilch of the Colorado Springs Fire Department. "Some, but not all, of the fuel drained into Fountain Creek."
Several private contractors, financed by the owner of the overturned tanker, contained as much of the spill as possible and removed it from the scene.
Wilch said the driver was taken to Memorial Hospital in stable condition. His name hadn't been released as of late Friday night.
A coalition of local, state and federal officials are involved in testing the water in Fountain Creek for the presence of fuel, and taking measures to contain it if found.
Authorities patrolled the creek from the spill site to Fountain and alerted municipalities as far south as Pueblo, warning people to stay away from the creek.
As of late Friday night, there was no word of any fuel being found.
"There are catchment basins within the stormwater system, said Chief Ted Collas of the Colorado Springs Fire Department. "So we'll have to see how much can be pumped out of that, to know how much was contained and how much was ultimately released."
The accident forced the closure of many Motor City businesses until the street reopened around 1:15 Friday afternoon.
"I came here to have an appointment for the recall service on my car and everything was closed," said Fanc Chu. "I'll have to make an appointment again. It's kind of not good. I waited three weeks for that appointment."
Some dealerships closed entirely, with not even clerks at desks or mechanics in garages. Others, like Heuberger Motors, tried to help customers from the parking lot and along part of the detour.
"We've lost a half a day," said Mike Jorgensen, owner of Red Noland Cadillac. "You don't get those back, especially going into the weekend. People wanted to get out of town and maybe have a few things done to their car, or get a new car for a weekend trip. So we're going to be scrambling (Friday) afternoon and it's going to put a little more pressure on (Saturday)."