WENTWORTH - Highway 4 was closed for most of the day Tuesday after slippery roads sent a tanker carrying 51,000 litres of aviation fuel skidding into the ditch shortly after 7 a.m.
Hazardous materials units from Amherst and New Glasgow were called in to clean up fuel that had leaked from the trailers before officials managed to stop the rupture.
"The leak is plugged and a pumper truck is en route," RCMP Sgt. John Berry, said.
The truck was travelling westbound on Highway 4 when it left the highway facing east, causing the two tanks it was hauling to detach.
The tanks remained on their sides in the ditch while waiting for a pumper to drain the fuel.
The driver of the Seaboard marked B-train truck was treated for minor injuries at the scene by EHS. Officials said hospitalization was not required.
Nova Scotia Vehicle Compliance officers, Emergency Measures Organization personnel, RCMP and transport Canada were also assisting with the investigation and containment.
"I suspect the highway will remain closed for the better part of the day and into the evening while crews transfer the fuel into another tanker truck," Const. Dal Hutchinson said Tuesday afternoon.
The HazMat teams had left the scene at about 3 p.m., with the aviation fuel being removed from the upset tankers.
"At the moment, we're waiting for heavy equipment to arrive to recover the tractor trailer from the ditch," Hutchinson said.
The constable expected the highway from Exit 7 and Highway 368 to remain closed until 6 p.m.
The Wentworth Fire Department and Department of Transportation were also at the scene.
rwilligar@springhillrecord.com
