Firefighters clean up after semi spills oil at Hayward rest area
Published 11:43 am Saturday, March 30, 2013
Albert Lea firefighters clean up an oil spill Friday evening at the Hayward rest area on Interstate 90. The firefighters trapped the oil, and state Department of Transportation crews disposed of the oil. Tim Engstrom/Albert Lea Tribune
HAYWARD — Firefighters from Hayward and Albert Lea cleaned up an oil spill Friday evening at the Hayward rest area on Interstate 90.
About three to five gallons spilled. The melting snow made the oil spill appear larger than it actually was, said Lt. Trevor DeRaad of the Albert Lea Fire Department.
The driver of the semi was not found, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Albert Lea Fire Department.
Albert Lea firefighters were called to assist Hayward at 6 p.m. The firefighters left the scene at about 7:50 p.m.
It was unclear whether the trucker knew he spilled the oil, DeRaad said. The rest area is divided into a parking area for cars and one for trucks. The spill happened in the lot for trucks. He said Hayward arrived first and trapped much of the oil to prevent most the substance from going into drains.
MnDOT disposed of the oil that the firefighters trapped.
