Tanker Overturns Spilling Thousands of Gallons of Fuel

Update 7 a.m.

Police lifted the ban on staring vehicles in the area where a tanker truck overturned in Bristow last night.

A temporary shelter at Marsteller Middle School has also been closed.

More from Prince William police:

Residents leaving on Merrimont Trace Cir and Manor Hall Ct can now make a right turn only onto Sudley Manor Dr. The temporary shelter at Marsteller Middle School has shut down. The fuel truck is expected to be towed away before 8 or 9 a.m. Extensive clean-up will begin at that point, however no road closures or evacuations are expected.

2:30 a.m.

Prince William County Police Department posted this update on their social media:

Residents and commuters can expect extended delays well into the morning rush hour as clean-up from the overturned fuel truck continues. Sudley Manor Drive will remain closed between Linton Hall Road and Dunbarton Drive. The Braemar Village Center will also remain closed for unknown time.

As of now, only voluntary evacuations are in place for residents in the surrounding area. All residents are recommended to shelter in place. In the event fumes become too intense or you begin to feel ill or unsafe, please contact [the police] communications center at 703-792-6500. We will make accommodations to pick up residents and take them to the temporary shelter at Marsteller Middle School.

RESIDENTS ARE ASKED TO NOT SELF EVACUATE. DO NOT START YOUR VEHICLES.

12:50 a.m. 

BRISTOW, Va. — With its left turn signal still flashing, an overturned tanker truck laid on its side in the intersection of Sudley Manor Road and Braemar Village Plaza in Bristow late Thursday night.

The truck overturned about 11 p.m. sending 8,500 gallons of motor fuel into the streets. The shopping center, anchored by a Safeway grocery store with a gas station, was evacuated. Prince William County officials also opened nearby Marsteller Middle School as a temporary shelter for residents who wanted to get away from the scene.

The truck appeared to be making a left turn into the shopping center when it overturned. Officials on the scene said the truck was occupied only by the driver, and that he was not seriously injured in the crash.

Fire and rescue crews from as far away as Dulles Airport responded to the call for help. When they arrived, they began spraying foam across the surface of the road in an effort to mitigate the impacts of the leaking fuel. A portion of Sudley Manor Drive was closed by police so crews could mop up the mess.

A Nokesville Volunteer Fire Station directly across the street from where the tanker overturned served as a command post for first responders to stage equipment and rally help.

As the night wore on, rain, thunder, and lightning continued to pour on the heads of emergency workers as a summer storm moved overhead.

“We’re beginning to make progress down there, sir,” one fire firefighter reported to an incident commander back at the fire station.

All in charge at the command post said they were too busy to provide a direct press briefing, but did confirm the situation appeared to be under control.

According to initial reports, a dam at Lake Manassas was to be closed to stop the potential leakage of motor fuel into the lake. 

Those in the neighborhood directly across the street from the accident scene came out on the street, but did not seemed alarmed.

“I live on this street and can see the truck, where it overturned, near my house,” said one man. “We got ahold of a [police] scanner and listened as the emergency crews went to work.”

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