Gas tanker crash on I-95 blocks lanes, affects Tri-Rail

Only southbound outside lane remains closed after crash

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A crash involving a gas tanker closed several lanes of Interstate 95 and forced the closure of the Tri-Rail for much of the day Friday.

The crash happened after 2 a.m. Friday morning and, at first, shut down all southbound lanes of I-95. Traffic was being detoured off Hallandale Beach Boulevard to avoid the crash near Ives Dairy Road.

All southbound lanes of I-95 were closed again shortly before 9 a.m. while crews worked to clean up the gas leak. Two lanes were reopened at 12:15 p.m., but traffic remained slow in the area.

By 4:30 p.m., only the southbound outside lane remained closed. 

Crews said parts of the tanker truck had been lifted out of a ditch shortly before the lanes were reopened.

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According to Cliff Berry, Inc. -- a private company contracted by the tanker company -- between 2,000 - 3,000 gallons of fuel was spilled into a drainage ditch from the 8,000-gallon capacity tanker. 

Geologist Edward Marks, of Cliff Berry, said they are trying to remove the rest of the fuel from the tanker before tow trucks get it back on its wheels.

"Once the initial emergency response has been completed and the site is deemed safe, we'll come back and a source removal of the impacted area from the petroleum spill," Marks said.  

Crews made several holes in the truck to get the remaining fuel out before the tanker truck was lifted up. 

As crews cleaned up the leak, it began affecting the Tri-Rail, which has tracks near the crash scene.

Trains are proceeding with caution between the Golden Glades and Hollywood stations. Tri-Rail trains could be stopped at any moment if fire crews deem it to dangerous. Commuters are urged to find another way to get around.

No one was injured in the crash. 

Once the scene clears, Cliff Berry employees hope to get a better sense of the environmental impact from the fuel spill.