Semitruck spills diesel onto Spokane Valley freeway entrance

A semitruck hauled by another semi toppled Wednesday morning, rupturing the fuel tank and spilling about 70 gallons of diesel onto an Interstate 90 on-ramp in Spokane Valley.

The truck was the second in a chain of three being transported west toward Spokane. It fell sideways about 6:30 a.m. at the Sullivan Road on-ramp due to an unsecured kingpin, said Melanie Rose, a spokeswoman for the Spokane Valley Fire Department.

Trooper Jeff Sevigney of the Washington State Patrol said the truck “spilled a relatively small amount of diesel that was quickly contained” and cited the cause of the spill as “improper load securement.”

Firefighters applied an absorbant to prevent the diesel from seeping into the westbound shoulder and alerted the Department of Ecology. Sand also was placed over the spill.

No injuries were reported. Sevigney said the driver likely will be ticketed.