PEORIA, Ill. — A 100-gallon diesel fuel spill was caused early Saturday morning by an apparent hit-and-run in downtown Peoria.
Peoria Firefighters were dispatched just a few minutes after 3:00 to the intersection of Martin Luther King Dr. and Kumpf Blvd. on reports of a passenger vehicle vs. semi incident.
Upon discovering the amount of fuel spilled, a HAZMAT team was sent to the scene.
The team quickly applied absorbent to clean up the spill in the streets and sidewalks, and also had to apply extra absorbent to storm drain openings to prevent contamination.
The situation was under control just after 4:00.
Battalion Chief Rick Morgan said the semi driver was uninjured, but status of the passenger vehicle driver was unknown.
“The semi [driver] was still there, but it appeared to be like a hit-and-run situation,” he said.
“When we got there, the [other driver] had abandoned the vehicle and had gotten into another vehicle and left the scene.
“We were just there to control the spill, and the people of the passenger vehicle were gone.”
Morgan said after his crew finished its portion of the cleanup, Peoria Public Works was working to further brush the streets and sidewalks to ensure safety of cars and pedestrians.
PPW Superintendent Sie Maroon confirmed the area was completely cleared up and safe to travel.
