
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, June 11, 1994                   TAG: 9406170080
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV6   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

TRUCK LEAKS OIL ON U.S. 460

CHRISTIANSBURG - A tractor-trailer spilled some of its fuel along U.S. 460 Thursday afternoon, creating a potentially slippery situation.

Fire Chief Jimmy Epperly said "an unreportable amount" of diesel fuel dribbled from the vehicle after it stopped for a traffic signal at the intersection of Virginia 114 and North Franklin Street near the New River Valley Mall. Epperly said a cap apparently was missing from one of the truck's saddle tanks and "it sloshed pretty bad" when the truck came to a stop at the light.

The driver was unaware of the problem, and the truck continued to spill fuel between the intersection and Montgomery Regional Hospital.

Public safety officials applied absorbent material to sop up the spilled fuel. "It made the 460 pretty slick," Epperly said. He said the problem would have been worse had it begun raining.

State police finally caught up with the truck near the Giles County line, he said. Blacksburg police also were notified.

by CNB