For sampling conducted and analytical results, please go to: www.startview.org/wc
On January 25, 2013, at approximately 6 a.m. a tanker truck hauling 6,000 gallons of gasoline and 2,000 gallons of diesel went off Highway 141, flipped over the guardrail, and went down a steep embankment into West Creek, approximately 20 feet below the highway. Both tanks on the tanker were breached and a fire ensued. The Grand Junction Fire Department responded to the accident and fire. Initial reports from the fire department indicate a three quarter mile fire line down the creek. The fire department deployed sorbent boom at approximately 1 mile and established another boom location approximately 2 miles downstream. The product in the tanker was allowed to burn. EPA OSC Craig Myers was deployed to the scene at around 9 a.m. The site is located approximately 30 miles southwest of Grand Junction, Colorado.
Initial responders on site included Gateway Unaweep Volunteer Fire, Grand Junction Fire and Colorado State Patrol Hazmat. The responsible party has an environmental cleanup contractor on-site.
West Creek enters the Dolores River approximately 10 miles downstream from the site.
Additional information is available in the POLREPs Section.
