Overturned semi near Collinsville prompts clean-up

Crews spent most of Thursday cleaning up from a semi-tanker truck accident and spill early Thursday morning. <br/><br/>The truck, which was carrying hot oil, overturned on state Highway 20, just east

Thursday, July 14th 2005, 7:44 am

By: News On 6

Crews spent most of Thursday cleaning up from a semi-tanker truck accident and spill early Thursday morning.

The truck, which was carrying hot oil, overturned on state Highway 20, just east of US 75 near Collinsville. The accident and resulting spill shut down the highway.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says the driver of the truck fell asleep at the wheel.

49,000 pounds of hot oil, used for road projects, spilled from the tanker into a drainage culvert. Crews put down limestone gravel to soak up the oil.

The contaminated soil is then scooped up and hauled away. OHP trooper Kent Knox: â€œthe product went underneath the roadway in the drainage ditch. So we're going to have to clean out from underneath the roadway without trying to damage the roadway."

The driver of the truck wasn't seriously injured.