Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 4, 1994 TAG: 9401040163
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: INDEPENDENCE LENGTH: Short
The truck, located on the site of New River Construction Co., held as much as 2,000 gallons, but fuel leaked from only one of its three compartments.
Because the tanker was used to service other vehicles, it is not known how much fuel the compartment contained.
"We don't know how many gallons spilled out," County Administrator Don Young said.
The spill was caused by an open valve. "We think it was some vandalism," said Tim Williams, vice president of the construction company.
Hazardous-material workers labored during the day to contain the spill.
"It's like we've got everyone in the state of Virginia coming," Williams said. "You know how that goes."
A spokesman at the county Sheriff's Department said the amount of lost fuel could have been as high as 1,000 gallons, but said there was no way to know for certain.
Some of the fuel got into a stream running into Peach Bottom Creek. A film could be seen on top of the creek Monday.
The creek feeds into the New River. Young said the fuel had not gotten into the river. Efforts were being made to skim the film off the creek.
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.