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MIDDLETOWN — Middletown firefighters and officials from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency will restart cleanup efforts this morning after working for several hours Tuesday, June 17, to contain diesel fuel leaking from an overturned tanker truck.

The Transmark tanker, out of Greensburg, Ind., was carrying about 7,200 gallons of fuel when the driver apparently made a turn "a little too fast for being full" just before 8:20 a.m. and toppled over on the on-ramp from Ohio 122 to southbound Interstate 75, said Trooper Stan Jordan of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Firefighters made an earthen dam to prevent leaking fuel from spreading, and drilled holes into the tank to relieve pressure as fuel was transferred to another vehicle.

A 150-gallon portable pool firefighters used to catch the diesel filled to overflowing within 5 minutes, said Middletown Deputy Fire Chief Brent Dominy, who estimated the total spill at between 500 and 1,000 gallons.

"It was coming out at a pretty good clip," he said.

The driver, Randall Burress of Hillsboro, Ind., sustained minor injuries, but was treated at the scene. He was cited by the highway patrol for failure to control.

Troopers said Burress was on his way to deliver diesel fuel to a gas station in New Point, Ind.

The ramp remained closed until after noon Tuesday and will close again at 9 a.m. today so workers can resume cleanup efforts, according to the highway patrol.

Staff

w

r

iter Lauren Pack contributed to this report.

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