Tanker crashed spilling thousands of gallons of oil.
BIG CREEK TOWNSHIP -- Cleanup efforts continued Thursday afternoon after a tanker crash in Oscoda County. The crash happened Wednesday at about 2:20 p.m. and caused thousands of gallons of oil to leak onto the road and nearby forest area.
Investigators with the Oscoda County Sheriff's Office say the driver of the tanker failed to navigate a turn on Mapes Road near Galloway Road in Big Creek Township. The tanker left the road and crashed into several trees. It was carrying 15,000 gallons of crude oil -- about 4 to 5 thousand gallons are believed to have leaked. The driver of the truck was hospitalized with minor injuries.
Local fire officials, Haz-Mat teams, road commission crews, sheriff's officers, U.S. Forest Service officers and several other agencies have been working to clean up the scene. Mapes Road remains closed as of 4:40 p.m. Thursday.
Sheriff's officials say they hope the road will reopen Friday. They ask that you stay away from the area until the cleanup effort is finished.
