Truck dumps heating oil in Plumstead

 

by Christopher Ruvo, Intelligencer/Courier Times, December 6, 2008

 

A deer dashed into the roadway, the truck swerved to avoid it and a few seconds later 3,000 gallons of home heating oil were spilling onto a Plumstead road.

 

That, say police, is the long and short of what happened about 3 p.m. on Stump Road near the intersection with Blueberry Lane on Friday.

 

Plumstead Police Chief Duane Hasenauer said it appeared as if much of 3,000-plus gallons of oil had spilled, though he couldn't say if all of it was on the road. A large spill area was visible and oil was in ditches along the rural roadway.

 

Crews were working into the night to clean up the fuel.

 

Bucks County heath officials were notified and are investigating. The Department of Environmental Protection will be notified so it can assess the impact to surrounding natural areas, Hasenauer said.

 

According to police, a trucker for Reit Fuel Oil Co. of Warminster was eastbound on Stump Road when a deer ran out into the roadway. Trucker Dan Conden of Trevose cut the wheel hard to avoid a collision, but lost control of the oil truck, which crashed onto its side, Hasenauer said.

 

The chief said Conden was not injured. The driver is not facing any charges in connection with the crash.

Article's URL:

 

http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/113-12062008-1633336.html