Tanker Spills 4,500 Gallons of Oil in Methuen

A truck accident occurred in Methuen yesterday afternoon resulting in a big oil mess. Apparently, a tanker truck taking a turn onto Route 28 flipped on its side and spilled approximately 4,500 gallons of heating oil.

The truck driver, Louis Fejes, 31, of Georgetown was not injured when the tanker, a 2009 Mack owned by the Lawrence-based gas station chain Haffner's flipped on its side.

The accident is still under investigation, and Fejes is facing possible citations.

His mistake for taking a turn too fast resulted in a massive oil cleanup on Route 28 just south of the bridge that crosses Route 213 (near the wetlands) - efforts that lasted all afternoon and well into the night, causing hours of delays and traffic problems.

The accident got responders from local Methuen police, state police, fire department, Department of Public Works (DPW), the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the state Department of Transportation (DOT), and private contractors.

The oil that was spilled was a No. 2 heating oil, and it may pose additional work for DOT workers. Namely, the DOT crews recently finished paving streets in the area, but now there are fears that the spilled oil will disintegrate the pavement.

Also, the oil, some of which drained into a catch basin, poses another danger, since the basin drains into a nearby wetland and may reach the Spicket River - a contributory to the Merrimack River, which is a source of drinking water.

So far, efforts have been made to keep the oil from reaching the wetlands. All the cleanup and preventive measures will be paid by Haffner's, Rick Pelletier, the company service manager said.

News Source: The Eagle Tribune