MDE at overturned tanker on I-95. About 800 gallons leaked, fuel was contained on road, no entry into storm drain. pic.twitter.com/b4iELW771N
— MD Environment (@MDEnvironment) March 10, 2015
I95 - Truck after uprighting... pic.twitter.com/Hk6sORGtWO
— PGFD PIO (@PGFDNews) March 10, 2015
Two lanes get by on southbound I-95. pic.twitter.com/Kj2t300amB
— mollenbeckWTOP (@mollenbeckWTOP) March 10, 2015I95 - Clean-up continues - photo by HazMat Coordinator Craig Black pic.twitter.com/mwJ7himJxm
— PGFD PIO (@PGFDNews) March 10, 2015The tanker is now loaded and moving. @WTOP pic.twitter.com/Yc3uRZzDFx
— mollenbeckWTOP (@mollenbeckWTOP) March 10, 2015
The once – overturned tanker is now upright. @WTOP pic.twitter.com/gLBxIKgXR7
— mollenbeckWTOP (@mollenbeckWTOP) March 10, 2015The once – overturned tanker is now upright. @WTOP pic.twitter.com/gLBxIKgXR7
— mollenbeckWTOP (@mollenbeckWTOP) March 10, 2015Updated photos from the scene of overturned tanker on Interstate 95. Motorists prepare for delays @MDSHA pic.twitter.com/7OB2KoNWpu
— MD State Police (@MDSP) March 10, 2015
Here's a look at the overturned tanker on the SB side of I-95, just north of the ICC. @WTOP pic.twitter.com/oilknrTLy3
— mollenbeckWTOP (@mollenbeckWTOP) March 10, 2015
The wrecker truck has just pulled up in front of the overturned tanker. pic.twitter.com/EuqyGplXPA
— mollenbeckWTOP (@mollenbeckWTOP) March 10, 2015
Here's a wide shot of the overturned tanker. pic.twitter.com/AL8RAKy5VD
— mollenbeckWTOP (@mollenbeckWTOP) March 10, 2015
Overturned truck on I-95 @WTOPtraffic pic.twitter.com/988CXWheqg
— Martin B (@Greyzebel) March 10, 2015
ALERT #MDtraffic I-95 btwn 198+ICC: CLOSED diverting, overturned tanker. #HAZMAT #dctraffic pic.twitter.com/m6JEE3Ba0V
— WTOP Traffic (@WTOPtraffic) March 10, 2015ALERT #MDtraffic I-95 SB @ 198 CLOSED diverting: Overturned tanker. 2 LEFT lanes NB CLOSED #dctraffic pic.twitter.com/lhQn7TiTiH
— WTOP Traffic (@WTOPtraffic) March 10, 2015
WASHINGTON — All lanes in both directions of Interstate 95 are now open more than seven hours hours after a tanker truck overturned, spilling hundreds of gallons of fuel on the highway in Laurel.
The closure before the Intercounty Connector created major backups throughout the day as drivers heading north and south became mired in the delays or tried to work around the wreck. Two southbound lanes of traffic were opened beginning about 3:30 p.m. as the cleanup continued. The northbound lanes were reopened earlier.
Multiple vehicles were involved in the 10:15 a.m. crash but only minor injuries were reported.
However as many as 700 gallons of biodiesel spilled from the tanker, which had a golf-ball sized hole in one section of the tanker and a smaller hole underneath. Responding crews were able to stanch the flow of the fuel, which is considered safer to handle than gasoline, according to the Prince George’s County Fire Department.
Another 400 gallons of biodiesel was captured in drums. The remaining 6,400 gallons of fuel was pumped into another tanker truck, according to the fire department.
The damaged tanker was eventually hoisted upright and towed from the road allowing hazmat crews to continue cleaning up the spilled fuel. A contractor may be needed to complete additional environmental remediation, which could take several days, says Assistant Chief Paul Gomez.
Most of the fuel was contained on the roadway and did not enter storm drains, according to the Maryland Department of the Environment.
The crash left the tanker on its side, stretching across all lanes of the interstate. Aerial footage showed that it had hit a jersey barrier and leaking fuel had pooled on the pavement.
Southbound traffic had been diverted at Md. Route 198 but was eventually allowed to use the local ramp to Konterra Drive to continue past the ICC and back onto I-95. Northbound traffic meanwhile was funneled into a single local lane, but all lanes have since reopened to vehicles heading toward Baltimore.
At its peak, traffic backups stretched for 8 miles, according to the Maryland State Highway Administration.
WTOP’s Brennan Haselton, Andrew Mollenbeck and Amanda Iacone contributed to this report.
