Motorists traveling southbound on the Maine Turnpike faced delays Monday after a tractor-trailer spilled several hundred gallons of diesel fuel across a stretch of highway in Cumberland, forcing the closure of the right travel lane for hours.
Maine State Police responded at approximately 1:20 a.m. Monday to the southbound side of the Turnpike near mile marker 58 after a tractor-trailer hauling asphalt suffered a mechanical failure.
According to police, the truck, owned by Lowe and Bassett LLC, was transporting asphalt for a paving project when an axle broke and punctured the vehicle’s diesel tanks and hydraulic lines.
Despite the damage, the tractor-trailer continued for approximately three-quarters of a mile, spilling several hundred gallons of diesel fuel along the roadway before coming to a stop.
The truck ultimately stopped partially in the right travel lane and was later removed by Copp Motors.
Cleanup crews continued working at the scene Monday morning, with the right southbound lane expected to remain closed for several hours. Authorities warned drivers to expect delays through the Cumberland area while the cleanup continued.
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection and Maine Turnpike Authority were assisting Maine State Police with the response and cleanup.
No injuries were reported in the initial information released by police.
