Diesel spill shuts down section of U.S. 27 Tuesday night

Williston Police shut down a section of U.S. 27 for several hours late Tuesday due to a diesel spill.

Police Investigator James Bond noticed a semi truck and trailer parked in the turn lane in the 200 block of U.S. 27, which is east of Main Street. While approaching the truck at 7:50 p. m., Bond noticed diesel fuel appeared to be leaking from it and that there was a trail of fuel on the four lane leading to where the truck was parked.

Lt. Clay Connolly said Bond was able to find a shut off valve on the truck and the spill was held to about 20 to 30 gallons.

Traffic in both directions on U. S. 27 was detoured several blocks around the scene due to the possibility of sparks causing a fire.

Truck driver Robert Sprayberry, 63, of North Carolina, told police he recently bought the 2010 Volvo. Connolly said it appeared that the spill was the result of an equipment failure - the drive shaft breaking and shearing the fuel line.

Bond and then the Williston Fire Department worked to keep the diesel out of the storm drains until a private firm arrived at about 11:30 p. m. to clean up the spill.

"There was no ticket issued because this appeared to be an equipment failure, not driver error," Connolly said.