At 6:15 a.m., the Eastern Shore 911 center alerted New Church Fire and Rescue, Atlantic Fire and Rescue and Oak Hall EMS for a motor vehicle crash with entrapment on Lankford Highway at the intersection of Chincoteague Road.
It was reported as two tractor-trailers. Both drivers, however, were out of their rigs.
Approximately 300 gallons of fuel was leaking from one of the truck's saddle tanks as well as other fluids.
The northbound lanes of Lankford Highway and all lanes of Chincoteague Road were closed due to the hazard. The amounts of fuel led to the alert of the Eastern Shore Regional Hazmat Team and NASA Wallops Flight Facility Hazmat to respond as well.
Crews began to apply absorbent pads, absorbent pigs, earth, and stay dry to the spill in an effort to contain it away from storm drains.
The Virginia Department of Transportation was called in to assist with clean up efforts and to divert traffic around the incident.
Crews were able to plug both tanks on the truck that were leaking fuel. During the clean up, another spill was located under the cab of the first truck, which was rear ended. It was determined to be battery acid, which was quickly cleaned up by New Church and the ESRHT.
Both drivers refused any treatment.
Several area wreckers were called in to assist with removal of the rigs, along with a grain truck to empty part of the load of the first truck, which was hauling corn.
Removal of the rigs took several hours due to the amount of damage, and the fact that the trailer of the first truck was sitting on the frame of the second truck.
The Virginia State Police were on location to investigate the early morning accident.
