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HELPER, Carbon County — U.S. Highway 191 near Helper is open after a semitruck spilled approximately 119 barrels of crude oil on the road and into a creek close by, closing the road while crews cleaned.
The highway was reopened about 6 p.m. Saturday, according to Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Lawrence Hopper.
The accident occurred Friday morning about 8 a.m. when a semitruck with double tankers rolled seven miles to the north of Helper, according to the Carbon County sheriff’s authorities. The truck was hauling crude oil, and the equivalent of around 5,000 gallons spilled.
The road remained closed earlier Saturday primarily because officials didn't want vehicles traveling through the canyon while workers were on the road cleaning up the spill, Hopper said.
The cause of the accident still has not been confirmed, but Hopper reported that the driver of the tanker was the only person involved, and he was not injured.
