I-285 tanker crash, fuel spill snarls traffic for hours

Environmental concerns are growing after a tanker truck carrying 7,500 gallons of fuel overturned Tuesday on I-285 in Clayton County.

The single-vehicle accident, which occurred on the west side of the interstate about 3:30 a.m., blocked eastbound and westbound lanes for hours. The east side of the interstate reopened just after 7 a.m., according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center. Westbound lanes reopened just before 8:50 a.m.

While officials have not specified the amount of fuel that spilled onto the interstate, “we have to worry about it getting into the groundwater (and) other substances,” Atlanta fire Battalion Chief Stephen Hill told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “So we’re trying to limit the environmental impact from the spilled diesel fuel as well.”

The Georgia Department of Transportation, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division and the Environmental Protection Agency are on the scene.

A tanker truck crash and fuel spill has I-285 shut down in both directions for hours Tuesday morning. JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

No other vehicles were involved in the accident, Channel 2 Action News reported. The truck driver was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital with minor injuries but is expected to be OK, Atlanta police said.