Officials in Nacogdoches are currently working to contain the spill of a large amount of gasoline that escaped from a transport truck in the 400 block of West Main this afternoon.
The incident occurred shortly after 2:30 pm when a transport truck owned by Morgan Oil Company of Nacogdoches was on a delivery to the Chevron station in the 400 block of West Main. The driver of the truck struck a retaining post at a gas pump with the trailer of the truck, causing damage to a valve on the truck.
Officials estimate that approximately 2100 gallons of gasoline escaped from the truck and ran into the Banita Creek. Fire Department and Haz-Mat officials began work immediately to stop the flow of fuel and contain the spill in the creek.
The police department evacuated the immediate area and began stopping and diverting traffic. TXDOT, TCEQ, City Public Works and other officials responded to the scene. The Nacogdoches Police Department’s Community Emergency Response Team volunteers were activated, and they monitored the creek to keep spectators from going to the creek.
A dam was constructed on the Banita Creek near the city softball complex on Martin Luther King Blvd. and the spill was contained at that point. Haz-Mat crews will use equipment, including vacuum trucks, to clean the gasoline from the creek.
Roads in the area, specifically West Main and Old Tyler Road in the area of the spill will be closed until further notice.
