Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 4, 1990 TAG: 9004040821
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B2 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Shenandoah bureau
DATELINE: LEXINGTON LENGTH: Short
The Dixie Gas & Oil truck, which held some 1,200 gallons of the inflammable liquid, overturned at about 9 a.m., Rockbridge County Administrator Don Austin said.
Details of the accident were sketchy late this morning, but Austin said no one was injured.
"All of the potential ignition sources that we know of have been turned off," including electricity and natural gas, Austin said. "The situation seems to be pretty much under control."
U.S. 11 was closed at mid-morning for a mile or so on either side of the spill, which occurred north of the intersection of U.S. 11 and Interstate 64.
The truck lay on its side in a turning area between northbound and southbound lanes of U.S. 11, a divided highway there. Six brick homes on one side of the highway had been evacuated, and a shopping center just south of the spill was closed.
Area fire departments, the county sheriff's office and state police were at the scene of the spill, Austin said. He said the state Water Control Board and state emergency officials also had been notified.
Propane occurs naturally in petroleum and is used as a fuel and in aerosols.
by CNB