I-94 Remains Closed After Semi Crash Spills 1,000 Gallons Of Fuel Across Freeway
ALLEN PARK (WWJ) - Authorities say a section of I-94 in the Allen Park area is going to be closed for quite some time after a semi-truck rolled over, spilling fuel across the freeway.
The accident happened around 11:40 p.m. Wednesday on westbound I-94 just west of Oakwood Boulevard, near the Southfield freeway interchange.
According to police, a semi-truck driver lost control of the vehicle and hit the median wall, causing the rig to roll over. No other vehicles were involved and no injuries were reported.
"A truck carrying thousands of gallons of fuel, unfortunately, spilled about 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel," Michigan Department of Transportation spokesperson Diane Cross told WWJ's Laura Bonnell.
Cross said the westbound lanes of I-94, between Oakwood and Telegraph, could be closed for hours past the busy morning rush hour Thursday as crews continue to clean up the spilled fuel.
"Because of the diesel fuel and the cleanup involved and the sweeping up of the absorbent -- we've got a lot of trucks out there and a lot of people out there, but it is going to take some time to get 94 west cleaned and cleared and re-opened," she said. "Plus, we've got a little bit of icy snow coming down, so it is a total guess on how long it will be closed."
Motorists are strongly urged to avoid the area. Traffic backups have been reported from miles away.
"Anyone heading west toward the airport or toward Ann Arbor, make sure you get off at Michigan Avenue, take that all the way west to M-39 and take that back south to connect with I-94," said Cross.
For the latest from the roads, stay with WWJ Newsradio 950 during Traffic and Weather on the 8s, 24-hours a day. Check for recent incidents now on the CBS Detroit Traffic Page.
