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Diesel spill from accident closes Agassiz-Rosedale Bridge

Diesel spill from accident closes Agassiz-Rosedale Bridge
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A two vehicle collision occurred on The Agassiz-Rosedale Bridge this morning at 6:40 a.m. when a dump truck and pickup truck collided.

“Injuries were minor and the passengers were shaken up,” Agassiz Deputy Fire Chief Gerald Basten told The Observer. “The pickup truck is a total loss.”

The vehicles were headed southbound when then the dump truck crested to avoid hitting a bicyclist, impaling the bridge and downing a light standard while striking a northbound pickup truck in the process.

“The dump truck carried on with a punctured fuel tank which created a diesel spill,” said Basten. “There were litres and litres of diesel spilling out. The tank was full and a dump truck has 450 litres, that’s the reason the bridge was plugged and stopped for so long.”

According to Basten, cleaning up a diesel spill takes care, and Emil Anderson was on site soaking the excess diesel off the pavement.

It took a total of four hours to vacate the scene, which, is now clear.

“It took an extended period of time — it was especially important that the area was safe for summer motorcycle traffic, otherwise it’s like a skating rink out there,” said Basten.