'Miraculously' No Injuries Come From Diesel Spill on I-43

A semitrailer's gas tank ruptured Monday night after a tire flew off the vehicle while driving north on Interstate 43, hitting the truck's tanks, according to Ozaukee County Emergency Management Department Coordinator Mary Fitzgerald.

The incident caused law enforcement officials to close I-43 near exit 100 in Port Washington temporarily while working to clean up the 110 gallons of diesel fuel on the road.

Ozaukee County was notified about the incident at about 6:30 p.m. Monday, and the Ozaukee County HazMat team as well as the Port Washington Fire Department were on scene until about 9:15 p.m., Fitzgerald said.

"There was a lot of fuel on the freeway, which causes it to be very slippery," she said.

Sand was poured in the areas that the diesel spilled in order to soak up the fuel, Fitzgerald said, and vehicles were allowed to drive over the sand.

"That just compacts it, it’s the best way to take it up," she said. Veolia was expected to head to the area on Tuesday to clean up the sand and fuel mix.

"Miraculously," no one was injured in this incident, Fitzgerald said.