NACOGDOCHES, TX (KTRE) - Traffic is flowing again after a gasoline spill forced the closure of several downtown Nacogdoches roads Wednesday afternoon.
Wednesday afternoon a Nacogdoches Police
spokesman said a transport truck spilled thousands of gallons of fuel at
"The Depot" Chevron station at West Main and Old Tyler Road.
Sgt. Greg Sowell said the driver of the truck
struck a retaining post at a gas pump with the trailer of the truck,
causing damage to the valve on the truck. Representatives with Morgan
Oil, which owns the gas station, were at the scene.
Sowell said about 2,100 gallons of gas flowed
into Banita Creek. Fire personnel and hazmat officials immediately
began working to contain the spill.
For much of the evening, drivers were advised
to avoid the area around Old Tyler Road, West Main Street, and Pearl
Street. Around 8:45 p.m., Nacogdoches Police said all roads have
reopened to traffic.
The accident threatened to create even more
congestion in a busy area. The Eli Young Band performed at Banita Creek
Hall on West Main, across from the gas station. Via Banita Creek's
Facebook page, the hall told followers the concert would go on. "You may
have to take the courthouse entrance because of the gas spill closing
Main Street."
Clear Springs and Auntie Pasta's restaurants on Old Tyler Road closed Wednesday evening due to the spill.
Workers were able to build a dam on the creek
near the softball complex on Martin Luther King Boulevard and the spill
was contained there.
Crews remain on the scene to clean up the fuel. Officials said the fire department will also remain downtown overnight.
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