A tractor trailer traveling eastbound on the Thruway this afternoon lost its drive shaft, which hit one of its saddle tanks, opening a gash in the tank and leading to a fuel spill of up to 80 gallons diesel.
Nobody was hurt in the accident, though two cars on the Thruway hit the drive shaft and were damaged.
The truck was able to coast into the the Pembroke Service Area, leaving a trail of slick diesel from the point of the original mechanical failure to the parking lot.
Most of the fuel leaked in the service area parking lot and flowed toward a storm drain.
Diesel fuel was found a few hundred yards down stream flowing into the nearby creak, but firefighters were able to set up barriers and contain the spill at the creek entrance.
Crews were called in to spread absorbent material to clean up the spill in the parking lot.
Thruway crews spread salt on the roadway surface to provide traction and soak up the spilled fuel.
East Pembroke, Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments responded along with the county's Emergency Management team and the hazmat team. NYSP Troop T assisted at the scene.
