By Staff 6.27,2016
Several thousand gallons of crude oil leaked from two tanker trailers after a crash occurred on Wyoming State Highway 450 on June 26th.
The crash occurred around 9:40 a.m. on the 26th after a commercial truck hauling a semi-trailer and a pup trailer containing crude oil rolled over. The truck was traveling east on Wyoming 450 near mile post 50 (approx. 15 miles east of Wright) when the truck traveled off the roadway into the south ditch. The driver, 39 year old Douglas, Wyoming resident Nathan Gibson, attempted to steer the truck back on the highway but was unsuccessful as the vehicle tripped and rolled.
The pup trailer was breached and leaked crude oil. The main trailer leaked crude oil out of a hatch on top of the tank. Several thousand gallons of crude oil are believed to have leaked from the tanks.
The Campbell County Fire Department Hazmat Unit was dispatched to the scene and was able to stop the leaks. The remaining crude oil was offloaded onto another tanker.
Traffic control around the crash scene kept the highway open during the investigation and cleanup.
Mr. Gibson sustained only minor injuries as he was wearing his seat belt. He was taken to a medical facility in Gillette where he was treated and released. Gibson was cited for failing to maintain a single lane of travel along with several violations discovered after a Level I truck inspection was conducted.
Crews completed the scene cleanup around 8:00 p.m. on the 26th.