Environment

Tanker truck spills 1,200 gallons of diesel on Dalton Highway

A Big State Logistics truck went off the Dalton Highway north of Wiseman Sunday night and spilled about 1,200 gallons of diesel fuel, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation said.

At some point after about 9,000 gallons of fuel were removed from the trailer, the tractor and trailer caught fire and remained burning Monday at noon, the DEC said in a situation report. Big State Logistics estimated the spill at 1,200 gallons.

By 5 p.m., the truck fire was out but surrounding vegetation was still burning, said Ashley Adamczak, an environmental program specialist with DEC.

The accident took place at Mile 189, about 14 miles north of Wiseman -- a community of just 15 people about 260 miles from Fairbanks -- at about 8:15 p.m. Sunday.

The agency said the rear compartment of the tanker ruptured when the truck rolled over. The driver was taken to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, treated and released.

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