WHITE CO., Ill. - White County Sheriff's authorities had to call out the county highway engineer Saturday after an oil spill made a mess on highways and roads literally across the county.
Deputy Randy Graves was the one on-duty when authorities were notified Saturday morning (January 5) at 5:30 a.m., that there was oil being spilled throughout the county. Graves was able to locate the spill, which, he reported, appeared to have come from a tank truck which had an open rear valve.
Graves reports that the oil leak started at a location on 1500E and 1175N. The tank truck headed north on 1500E to the intersection of 1500E and 1650N; at this intersection, it turned on to 1650N headed east. At the intersection of 1650N and 1600E, the truck turned onto 1600E headed north. The truck then crossed Illinois Route 1 and the oil leak stopped at 1600E at 1950N. Graves reports that it was on the roadway for this duration, but it didn't appear there was any oil in the ditches.
White County Engineer Brian Ray was notified and said he'd respond to the scene with a truck of sand to cover the oil; White County trucks along with Hawthorne Township road commissioner Jeff Kisner responded to the scene to apply sand.
It was determined that Wildcat Tank Truck Services of Olney was the vehicle experiencing the spill, and Graves spoke to the owner, who reported that the rear 4-inch nipple was rotten and had broken while the truck was driving down the roadway. The driver, James H. Earl II, 43 of Maunie, reported that he didn't know the truck was leaking crude oil due to it being dark outside when it occurred. The truck was supposed to have approximately 500 gallons of crude in it.
There's been no report on exactly how much oil was spilled. Conditions are apparently passable today, Monday, January 7.