A diesel truck trying to wend its way around the city's only traffic circle flipped over and spilled some of its cargo Friday at about 8 p.m.
Nearby McMillan Creek and Nechako River waters were only a few metres away from the gurgling fuel sloshing from the damaged trailer onto the ground and into storm drains.
"It was a matter of speed relative to the conditions, pure and simple, to flip a tanker truck," said Prince George RCMP spokesman Cpl. Craig Douglass. "The rig was northbound and when it came off the Cameron Street Bridge the driver's plan was to go three-quarters of the way around the roundabout and turn onto the next road on the route."
According to investigators from BC Commercial Vehicle Safety Enforcement, there was no mechanical issue with the truck. The driver, a 32-year-old Prince George resident, was charged under the Motor Vehicle Act with driving without consideration.
The Ministry of Environment was also dispatched to the scene, but thanks to efforts by the truck's owner, Sands Bulk Sales, no environmental discipline was needed.
"They responded immediately, they took on full responsibility for cleaning it up is as mandated by law, and they were excellent in their dealings with us," said Dale Bull, the ministry's environmental emergency response officer. "I was very impressed with the cleanup efforts. They took control, and the rest of us were there to support them."
Prince George Fire Rescue Service also attended, as did the RCMP and personnel from the City of Prince George. Together, those at the scene deployed sand to soak up the spilled diesel, and brought in a vacuum truck to suck out the sewer pipes. Bull estimated that 99.5 per cent of the spilled toxin was gathered back from the spill.
"We can't be sure exactly how much got out. I am certain it was less than 500 litres," Bull said. "Of that, we lost between 5 and 10 litres down the storm sewers but we caught that in the sewer and removed it out by vac-truck. I am confident we prevented all diesel from reaching McMillan Creek and the Nechako River."
An incident of this nature is not common, said Bull. There have been 90 calls for hazardous materials spills in the Prince George region since Jan. 1 but only five to 10 per cent of those calls ever require an investigator to attend, as was the case this time. He called this spill "larger-scale" than most and "because of the proximity to two main waterways," it is more concerning than most.
Douglass said drivers of large-sized rigs must be extra sensitive about their driving choices.
"A reasonable speed is expected, especially with a commercial vehicle, especially one carrying a sensitive chemical," he said.
Bull said this was only the second time he was aware of that a commercial vehicle of any description had failed to negotiate the roundabout feature at the northern intersection of the Cameron Street Bridge.
"For the most part it has been a good piece of roadway, there. We could easily see may more incidents in an area that gets that much industrial traffic, so it is a design that seems to be working well."
If anyone should spill a hazardous material, or see that it has happened, please call the Ministry of Environment's hotline as soon as possible: 1-800-663-3456.
The spill area remains slippery when wet. Bull said the only diesel that could not be retrieved was the thin layer that seeped into the highway hardtop itself. RCMP cautioned drivers to be extra careful for the time being when travelling around the circle.
