PENN FOREST TOWNSHIP, CARBON COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Crews responded to a truck rollover that caused a heating oil spill near a river in Carbon County.
Environmental concerns after a truck carrying kerosene rolled over this morning in Penn
Forest Township.
Crews on scene say they were able to stop approximately 800 gallons of oil from spilling into the nearby Lehigh River.
According to Fire Chief Tom Lynd of Penn Forest Fire Company 1, the driver was coming up on a curve in the road and lost control on Drakes Creek Road Tuesday morning.
“We know he came around the corner as you can see by the tire marks he said something happened and he just lost control of the vehicle,” stated Steve Oho, owner of RF Ohl.
The chief stated the driver was taken to hospital but was not severely injured.
PPL power lines were knocked down in the crash causing crews to shut off power as a precaution.
“It should not have any effect on the environment. We’ve checked all the streams down and it has not they’re too far away,” said Lynd.
Chief Lynd says he’s not sure what action they will take but noted crews may have to dig the soil out in the area of the spill.
Drakes Creek Road will be closed until crews clean up the mess. There is no anticipated time of reopening.
