Fuel truck on I-85 spills at least 245 gallons

A truck carrying diesel fuel began leaking on Interstate-85, Thursday afternoon, blocking off one lane of traffic.

Braselton Police Chief Terry Esco estimated that about 245 gallons of fuel spilled out.

The incident occurred around 1:30 p.m. on I-85 Northbound just past the Chateau Elan exit. The truck is owned by Super Service, out of Somerset, Ky., and was being driven by Charles Davis, a truck driver for 29 years.

Crews were able to keep the fuel from touching the drivable lanes and directed the leak to the emergency lane on the right side of the Interstate. Only one lane of traffic was blocked for a little over half an hour.

Davis was traveling northbound on the Interstate when he ran over a metal object that punctured the fuel tank.

According to Davis, he knew he ran over something, but it wasn’t until fellow truckers on the Interstate radioed him that he knew he was leaking.

“The drivers said they were surprised it didn’t catch fire,” he said.

First Environmental responded to clean up the spill. The Braselton Police Department and the West Jackson Fire Department were also on scene.