An explosion marred clean up efforts for Mudgee’s emergency services yesterday after an overturned diesel tanker blocked the Castlereagh Highway for several hours.
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After about three-and-a-half hours mopping the accident scene, an empty fuel tanker came to transfer and decant excess diesel.
As the diesel transfer began an explosion rang out across Mudgee’s CBD. Several nearby offices were evacuated, including Mid-Western Regional, the Mudgee Region Tourism Office and Mudgee Post Office. The explosion was believed to be a build up of static electricity.
Local emergency services created a 200-metre exclusion zone around the accident scene at the intersection of Market and Douro Streets.
The perimeter was established as a precaution and affected streets were closed as residents were urged to avoid the area.
The clean up began less than 10 minutes after the diesel tanker overturned, navigating the intersection’s roundabout at about 7.20am.
Diversions were made as emergency crews began clearing the accident and mopping spilt diesel.
Thousands of litres of diesel spilled and NSW Fire and Rescue, along with a specialist HAZMAT crew placed mounds of soil at the bottom drain on Douro Street to stem the flow.
Mid-Western Regional Council placed booms in the Cudgegong River to stop fuel flowing downstream.
The driver did not suffer major injuries and police conducted a roadside breath test at the scene.
The tipped tanker was carrying about 11,000 litres of diesel at the time and had a trailer also carrying diesel. The tanker was allegedly travelling at about 40km/h.