Tanker crash closes U.S. 95

SANDPOINT — Traffic on U.S. 95 was closed for nine hours and two homes were evacuated after a gasoline tanker overturned around milepost 483 near Colburn early Sunday morning.

Idaho State Police reported a Kenworth tractor driven by Donald G. Eskue, 47, of Deer Park, Wash. was northbound pulling two tank trailers. Eskue left the roadway on the right shoulder and the rear tanker overturned. Eskue came back on the roadway and went over the centerline and then back again, coming to rest on the northbound shoulder of the road with the rear tanker overturned. The rear tank ruptured, spilling about 2,000 of its 3,000 gallons of gasoline.

Brian Kitchen, a senior specialist with ISP, dealt with the tanker’s cleanup and said that while gasoline is not among the most hazardous materials to clean, it does present a number of serious safety concerns that take time to address and remedy.

“The road was closed because it wasn’t safe to be there,” Kitchen said. “We’ve got a tanker on its side spilling out gasoline. That means we have a lower explosive limit surrounding that vehicle. Just the chance that anyone could come through there and provide an ignition source is a pretty substantial risk.”

Idaho State Police, Northside Fire Department, Idaho Transportation Department and Bonner County Sheriff’s Office personnel responded to the 6:45 a.m. incident.

Eskue was wearing a seat belt and there were no injuries reported.