Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
A TANKER SPILL on U.S. 2, near Watersmeet, is cleaned up in this photo on the WLUC-TV, of Marquette, website.
WATERSMEET - Deputies responded to a semi tractor-trailer accident on Wednesday at 6:20 a.m. and U.S. 2 remained closed through around 5 p.m.
The accident occurred near mile marker 59, according to the Gogebic County Sheriff's Department. The tractor detached from the trailer, which was punctured and it leaked about 1,000 gallons of fuel.
The rig was loaded with around 8,000 gallons of regular unleaded and diesel fuel.
Law enforcement, the Watersmeet Fire Department, Lac Vieux Desert police and the Ironwood Public Safety Department hazardous materials team also responded.
The highway was closed near the Ggebic-Iron Counties line, with a detour route taking vehicles north on U.S. 45 in Watersmeet, to M-28 east, and then south to M-141 in Covington to Crystal Falls.
The semi, owned by Stang Wisconsin Corp., was headed west on U.S. 2, when the rig apparently skidded on black ice.
The rig went out of control and struck a guard rail.
The driver was transported and released from an area hospital, according to WLUC-TV, of Marquette.
A Krist Oil emergency response team was also called out, as the remaining 7,000 gallons was pumped into another tanker and assisted in the clean-up effort.
