Semi spills fuel in Stony Ridge; driver hit by car

STONY RIDGE - Both lanes of U.S. 20 at State Rt. 163 were closed last night when a tractor-trailer rig spilled diesel fuel and corrosive material nearby on East Broadway, causing a traffic accident that injured the driver, authorities said.

The driver of the semi, whose name was not available, was hurt when he stepped out of the cabin and was hit by a car.

He was hospitalized with unknown injuries.

The accident occurred on East Broadway near U.S. 20 about 8:20 p.m., when the semi apparently went off the road and hit something, spilling about 55 gallons of dibutylaminoethanol - a toxic, corrosive liquid - and some diesel fuel, Eric Larson, director of the Wood County Emergency Management Agency, said.

Residents of houses near the spill were asked to keep their windows and doors shut until the spill was cleaned up, which Mr. Larson said could take at least four hours.