2008 Woodie Awards
Oil spill clogs Big Bend
Substance, suspected to be cooking oil, caused two-hour delay for Webster drivers
By: Angela Ludwinski
Issue date: 4/19/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 3 next >
|
The Webster Groves police and fire departments blocked off Big Bend as well as Plymouth Avenue while waiting for the St. Louis County Street Department to arrive and clean up the oil.
The substance and cause of the spill was not immediately known. Andy Pitt, the battalion chief of the Webster Groves Fire Department, said the oil appeared to be cooking oil because it was clear and odorless.
"I don't understand how someone could drive that far without knowing they were leaking oil," Pitt said.
The WGPD was alerted of the spill after a two-car accident occurred because of oil on the road near Selma Avenue.
Webster student Liz Aleshunas, a senior photography major, was one of the drivers involved in the accident. Aleshunas was traveling eastbound on Big Bend, returning to Webster after a trip to Schnuck's. She said the car in front of her started to brake to let another car turn into a side street. It was unable to slow down, and the driver spun 90 degrees counter-clockwise. Aleshunas said she couldn't stop and instead, hit the passenger side of the car. Both drivers were uninjured.
Aleshunas' accident did not only alert police to the spill, but she was also able to give them information about the vehicle which released the oil. She said she saw oil leaking out of the back of a tanker on her way to Schnuck's and was able to give police a vehicle description.
"It was a silver tanker truck," Aleshunas said. "It didn't have any names on it or writing. When I saw it spilling oil, I just thought it was water."
Webster student Blake Toulou, a sophomore media communications major, said the pavement was slick. Toulou drove on the road before it was blocked off by the WGPD and almost got into an accident.
Be the first to comment on this story