MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A spill on I-79 at mile marker 148 will have all lanes of the northbound side closed at the I-68 split.
I-68 westbound traffic is being diverted to southbound I-79 and I-79 northbound traffic is being diverted to I-68 west during the clean up.
MECCA 911 Executive Director Jim Smith said the truck was hauling fuel oil and the initial investigation suggests the crash could have been caused by driver error.
“It appears that a large truck that was carrying fuel slammed on it’s brakes, slowed very quickly which spilled several hundred gallons of fuel onto the road,” Smith said.
Smith said to firefighters, state police, and state Division of Highways workers are on the scene waiting for a load of sand to help speed the clean up process along.
“They have a large load of sand coming out to the interstate to absorb the fuel spill and get the interstate back open,” Smith said.
Smith said there is not estimated time to reopen the road, but crews are working feverishly to complete the clean up.
“Right now we have the fire department on the scene with the state police and the state Division of Highways,” Smith said.