A hazardous materials team works on the overturned fuel truck in Nanuet. / Photo from Brian Duddy, Rockland Fires via Nyack Free Press.

An oil tanker truck traveling the roads of Rockland County tipped over and spilled its fuel contents across Route 59 Thursday afternoon near Nanuet, closing down the major traffic artery for most of the day.

The fuel tanker from NorthEastern Fuel had a 5,000 gallon capacity and was carrying an estimated 3,000 gallons of No. 2 diesel fuel, which splashed out of of the toppled truck.

Bill Demarest reported on the incident in Nyack Free Press, with updates throughout the day. The following information relies on Demarest’s reporting and draws from his account.

Haz Mat crews and firefighters work on the overturned fuel truck in Nanuet. / Kenny Flynn

The Clarkstown Police Department said they received a call at 12:45 p.m. on Thursday, May 1, about an overturned truck at the intersection of Route 59 and College Avenue in Nanuet. The truck was leaking diesel fuel onto the roadway, causing police and volunteer firefighters to rapidly respond to the incident at College Avenue. Emergency responders included Clarkstown Police, the Nanuet Fire Department and the Rockland County Haz Mat team.

The fuel spill closed Route 59 from Route 304 to Middletown Road and College Avenue from First Street to West Nyack Road, according to Clarkstown police spokesman Officer Peter Walker.

Fuel spill clean up in Nanuet. / Kenny Flynn

Fuel also reportedly leaked into adjacent storm drains and was even detected downstream in the area of Lake Nanuet.

Walker said that residents living south of Route 59 in Nanuet would be able to detect a fuel odor and he urged them to keep their doors and windows closed to prevent the odor from getting into homes. Police also urge parents not to let children play near storm drains.

Emergency officials said the 44 year old driver of the tanker truck was making a left turn on eastbound Rt. 59 when the accident occurred. The truck driver sustained a minor shoulder injury and was evacuated to Nyack Hospital.

Firefighters investigated waterways surrounding waterways, checking for pollution from the spill. As a precautionary measure, emergency response crews put containment booms in stream waters at Lake Nanuet, ensuring that pollution would not travel further south and reach the Lake Tappan reservoir.

No homes or neighborhoods were evacuated due to the fuel spil.

Haz Mat workers trying to stop the fuel leak. / Kenny Flynn

By late afternoon, the off-loading process was nearly complete, with emergency officials preparing to flip the overturned truck can be back onto its wheels by heavy-duty tow trucks.

Fuel from the overturned tanker was pumped into another truck throughout the clean up process.

Volunteer firefighters worked Thursday afternoon to sponge up the No. 2 diesel fuel, using absorbent materials, including sand — all while wearing heavy protective gear.

Firefighters and emergency teams finished their work late afternoon and the truck was hauled away.

The spill caused the Nanuet School District to issue an alert to parents that school buses might be delayed for the trip home this afternoon because of the afternoon closure of Route 59. Transport of Rockland (TOR) 59 and 93 Routes were on 15 minute delays for a time because of the closure of Route 59. Buses to Normandy Village in Nanuet were unable to pick up or drop off passengers have periods throughout Thursday afternoon.

By 10:50 p.m. Thursday evening, the entire area along Rt. 59 where the tanker tipped was cleared but officials said that there was still hours of cleanup yet to be done.

This article relied on content and material contributed by Bill Demarest from Nyack Free Press.