Crime & Safety

Driver Cited After Tanker Truck Overturned, Spilling Gas On U.S. 19

The driver of a tanker truck that crashed Friday while making an illegal U-turn under U.S. 19 has been cited for careless driving.

D'Ann Lawrence White's profile picture
D'Ann Lawrence White, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
The driver of a tanker truck that crashed Friday while making an illegal U-turn under U.S. 19 at Seville Boulevard has been cited for careless driving, according to Clearwater police.
The driver of a tanker truck that crashed Friday while making an illegal U-turn under U.S. 19 at Seville Boulevard has been cited for careless driving, according to Clearwater police. (Clearwater Police )

CLEARWATER, FL — The driver of a tanker truck that crashed Friday while making an illegal U-turn under U.S. 19 at Seville Boulevard has been cited for careless driving, according to Clearwater police.

Police said the crash occurred just before 8:30 p.m. in the southbound access lanes of the 20000 block of U.S. 19 in front of Congo River Golf. Part of the truck struck a portion of the retaining wall on the underpass and overturned, leaking a portion of its 8,500 gallons of gas onto the road.

Hazardous materials crews worked through the night containing and cleaning up the spill. The road was reopened at 6:30 a.m. Dec. 31.

Find out what's happening in Clearwaterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The truck was owned by CWC Transport. The driver, Gary Bienek Jr., 47, was cited.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Clearwater