A single vehicle accident on Highway 3 involving a fuel truck has spilled 10,000 litres of diesel fuel, according to the provincial Environment Ministry.
The accident happened Monday evening just west of Hedley. The crash left the truck flipped on its side in a ditch.
Police said the driver of the fuel tanker says he swerved to avoid an oncoming semi truck and ended up rolling the fuel tanker into the ditch.
According to the driver of the fuel truck, the semi had cut the corner and crossed the center line.
The semi truck did not stop.
The driver of a fuel truck was taken to hospital to be treated for chest injuries. He is expected to recover.
Police said fuel from the tanker spilled into the ditch and the Similkameen River.
However, the province says the “majority of the diesel was spilled on the roadway.”
“It appears that very little of the spilled diesel, if any, has made it to the Similkameen River,” said an Environment Ministry spokesperson in an emailed statement.
“Clean up activities are still ongoing and an environmental contractor has been retained for site impact assessment and long term monitoring.”
The province said the tanker truck was carrying 12,000 liters of diesel fuel in total.
Highway 3 was closed westbound but has since reopened to single lane alternating traffic.
Police are investigating and hoping to speak to anyone who witnessed the crash.
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