Updated: July 12, 8:45 a.m.
Police expect the fuel truck to be towed away before 8 or 9 a.m.
Original Story:
Prince William County Police said that emergency crews will soon be able to transfer the remaining fuel still in the tanker that overturned at Braemar Village Plaza last night to a second fuel truck.
According to police spokesman Officer Jonathan Perok, the tanker that flipped over in front of the Braemar Village Plaza last night had three separate compartments. A gash in the largest compartment, which was holding 2,400 gallons of fuel, was what caused most of the issues for hazmat teams.
However, Fire & Rescue crews estimated that the majority of that fuel had leaked out of the tanker before it could be patched.
“ have patched it up. However, there are small amounts still leaking out,” said Perok.
Perok said Fire & Rescue estimates that approximately 1,000 gallons of fuel remain in the tanker.*
"Currently fire crews are awaiting the arrival of a second fuel truck, which should be arriving soon to remove the remaining fuel in the tank, and a heavy duty tow truck," Perok said. "Once remaining fuel is removed, the truck will be up-righted and towed from the scene."
At that point crews will commence with the extensive clean up of Sudley Manor Drive and Broad Run.
Braemar residents will not be asked to evacuate the area as hazmat units do not anticipate problems arising from the transfer of fuel from the tanker.
After the tanker is removed, Perok said that fire fighters, along with Virginia Department of Transportation officials, will continue to contain the spill into the daylight hours.
“It will take a couple of hours to transfer the fuel. Then there will be more clean up,” Perok said. “Rush hour may be affected.”
With the rain carrying the spill quickly away from the scene of the accident, there was also some concern as to whether the water in Broad Run has been contaminated by the fuel spill.
“[Fire & Rescue and utilities] are looking into it,” Perok said.
Perok does not believe the spill made it to Broad Run; however, there is some concern since there are drainage paths leading from Braemar Village Plaza to the stream.
While Braemar Village Plaza will be closed tomorrow morning, including the KinderCare Day Care, most residents will be able to come and go freely to and from their homes.
However, those who live on Merrimont Trace Circle and Manor Hall Court will be prevented from leaving by car due to the activity around the gas spill. Perok said those residents should call police for assistance as they can arrange for transport for these residents.
While Perok said police are not expected to need to evacuate anyone from their homes at this times, people can voluntarily go to Marsteller Middle School should they feel the “fumes are overwhelming.”
These fumes can cause nausea, so police recommend that people avoid them and stay indoors.
Perok also said that the cause of the accident has not been determined. While police will usually examine a vehicle after an accident, they had not yet been able to do that as the gasoline spill took priority.
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