LEHIGH COUNTY, PA – A tractor trailer trying to merge onto Interstate 78 in Upper Macungie Township lost control and flipped onto its side in the early morning hours of Friday, July 29. The trailer was carrying over 7,000 gallons of used motor oil. As the truck careened out of control, it struck the median ripping open the tank and allowed the contents to flow freely.
Around 5:30 AM, Lehigh County 9-1-1 dispatched Stations 8 (Fogelsville), 25 (Trexlertown), 56 (Upper Macungie) and 62 (Cetronia EMS) to I78 eastbound in the area of Route 100 for the accident with rollover and spill. The 9-1-1 Center was receiving numerous calls reporting a large spill due to the accident.
First arriving units found the tractor trailer on its side against the median with a large amount of oil on the roadway. The interstate was quickly shut down and additional resources were requested. Spill units from Stations 26 (Tri-Clover, Orefield) and 30 (Lower Macungie Twp.) were dispatched along with a full response from Station 42 (Lehigh County Special Operations).
Firefighters quickly moved toward storm drains as the oil was flowing from the tanker uncontrollably and descending into the drains. As additional resources arrived crews used booms and oil-dry to stop any additional oil from going into the drains.
Since the entire roadway was covered in oil, Command requested two sand trucks from the street department and representatives from DEP and PennDOT. A sand truck from PennDOT was also requested.
Eastbound traffic was detoured off the interstate at Exit 45 (New Smithville) and redirected to Old Route 22. Westbound traffic was slowed down to one lane as the oil was covering the passing lane. Traffic backed up for miles as did traffic on the secondary roadways.
Fire crews remained on scene into the morning to assist with the clean up but were released before noon. The interstate remained closed throughout the afternoon and wasn’t expected to be opened until the following morning, at the earliest.
