Fuel spill causes 6 crashes including on Vine Street Expressway, police say

CENTER CITY - October 7, 2013 (WPVI) -- Police say a fuel spill resulted in six accidents including two multi-vehicle crashes on the Vine Street Expressway.

Police say at 5:03 p.m. Monday, a commercial motor vehicle carrying crane parts from Manheim, Lancaster County to a location in Philadelphia was traveling on I-76 eastbound at Route 1 when a piece of its left front bumper came off and punctured its left saddle tank.

The tank, which holds 140 gallons of diesel fuel, began to leak.

The vehicle continued to travel, while losing its fuel, on I-76 east to I-676 east and on to I-95 north before it was stopped on the off ramp of Allegheny Avenue.

The fuel caused the roadway to become slick, causing 6 accidents involving 22 vehicles.

The most serious accidents occurred on the ramp from the eastbound Schuylkill Expressway (I-76) to the eastbound Vine Street Expressway (I-676).

According to state police, the roadway was reopened around 7:30 p.m.

There were reported injuries, but police have not released further information.

The fuel spill was contained on the Allegheny Avenue off ramp.

The investigation continues.

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philadelphia news, vine street expressway, schuylkill expressway, accident, local/state

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