All I-10 lanes back open after cleanup of 5,000-gallon fuel spill in Banning
All I-10 lanes are back open after an hours-long clean-up of 5,000 gallons of fuel that spilled when a fuel tanker rolled over in Banning early Tuesday morning.
The highway was shut down multiple times throughout the day for clean-up. The eastbound side was fully shutdown at 12:40 p.m., two lanes were back open by 2:30 p.m. The highway was fully open by 2:50 p.m.
**2nd Update** Good news, All lanes are now open!! On-ramp and Off-ramp still remain closed at this time.
— Caltrans District 8 (@Caltrans8) August 31, 2021
A SIG Alert was issued as all lanes of I-10 were closed to traffic in both directions between Ramsey Street and 8th Street as of 5:00 a.m. Tuesday.
The CHP reopened the westbound freeway lanes as of 5:15 a.m. Two of four eastbound freeway lanes were reopened to traffic shortly after 7:00 a.m.
A CalFire spokesman said 5,000 gallons of fuel spilled from a tanker truck when it went off the road and flipped onto its side. More fuel remained in the truck's tank and was set to be offloaded later.
“It was a solo vehicle collision, no other vehicles were involved. We’re not sure exactly why he went off the road," said Matt Napier, Public Information Officer, CHP.
Napier added the driver was taken to the hospital with moderate injuries.
Traffic was detoured off the freeway at 8th Street and returned to the freeway via Ramsey Street for hours, causing a major headache for drivers.
“We hit the traffic and it was terrible," said Gene Bird, a driver traveling from San Diego.
"It was time consuming...at one point it added an hour and 45 minutes to our ride," added Wendy Pellegrino, traveling home to Arizona from Huntington Beach.
A hazardous materials team was also on the scene.
Cal Fire says this on-ramp will likely be closed for days while crews continue their decontamination efforts.
“Any of the fuel that contaminated into the soil that’s going to need to be removed," said Bryan White, Division Chief, Cal Fire.
Stay with KESQ News Channel 3 for updates.
Traffic Collision - 3:32 am I-10 near Hargrave St On Ramp, Banning. Firefighters responded to a fuel tanker rollover near the on ramp. No fire. HAZMAT requested to the scene. I-10 closed in both directions, EB at Ramsey, WB at 8th. #HargraveIC pic.twitter.com/jZ3pSPLojV
— CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department (@CALFIRERRU) August 31, 2021
