A portion of Liberty Avenue near its intersection with State Route 141 was closed overnight as cleanup crews contended with a diesel fuel spill.

Ironton Fire Chief Tom Runyon said a PJax trucking Co. tanker carrying an estimated 140 to 190 gallons of diesel fuel ripped one of its saddle tanks open while trying to maneuver on the city street.

"He was trying to swing through the Speedway lot and make a turnaround and they had this concrete sign up there that had been broken earlier by a car accident or something and there was a pylon sticking out of it," Runyon said. "Either he didn't see the pylon or tried to miss it but it ripped open the bottom of one of the saddle tanks."

Runyon estimated that 80 to 120 gallons of diesel fuel spilled on the street, some of which got into the sewer. An industrial company was called in to clean up the spill, and the city provided two loads of sand to mop up the mess.

Since diesel fuel tends to become slippery when it is wet, Runyon said part of Liberty Avenue was closed to prevent other accidents and to keep motorists from driving through it. The street was reopened

at 4 a.m. this morning.

Runyon said agents with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency will be in town today to assist with the matter.