(Updated at 2:45 p.m.) An accident on the Beltway just north of Tysons has northbound traffic cut down to just 1-2 lanes as crews work to contain a large diesel spill.
The incident occurred around 1:30 p.m. just north of the Dulles Toll Road.
Fairfax Fire and Rescue says the spill came from a saddle tank of an 18-wheeler box truck. Hazmat crews have contained the spill, but three lanes remain closed.
Traffic along the northbound HOT lanes is not affected. Video from the overhead (below) shows heavy traffic building prior to the accident scene. Congestion is backed up for northbound I-495 at least to Leesburg Pike.
The incident conjures fresh memories of last week’s tanker crash that shut down traffic on the Beltway for hours, though so far traffic has been able to squeeze by on the lefthand side of the highway’s main lanes.
UPDATE I-495 NB Prior to Georgetown Pike: Leak contained. Fuel does not appear to have entered nearby creek. Units are going back in service. Will be opening up the one lane still closed shortly. #FCFRD #FairfaxCounty #traffic #vatraffic pic.twitter.com/EgGkg5SUSt
— Fairfax Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) April 3, 2019
Ooof. Hope no one is getting on I-495 NB near McLean, VA right now… #tysons cc @WTOPtraffic pic.twitter.com/qSWXwUl1Rk
— Esther Lee (@EstherYuHsiLee) April 3, 2019
Update at 3:55 p.m. — Tow crews are on scene and one far left lane is now temporarily squeezing by the crash, but VDOT says it will soon completely close the highway again. The closure, which is expected to last throughout the rush hour, is causing serious traffic issues across the area.
The Inner Loop of the Beltway is closed for an extended period of time due to a truck crash prior to the American Legion Bridge.
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue say the tanker truck, which overturned on northbound I-495 near the Great Falls exit, is “actively leaking” 8,500 gallons of hazardous fluid, initially reported to be fuel.
Hazmat crews are “aggressively” working to contain the leak, but the Inner Loop is expected to remain closed for at least two hours and possibly longer, well into the evening rush hour.
Only one minor injury was reported.
The crash was caught on a dashcam, per a video posted on social media.
Holy crap!!! A guy my husband just had a meeting with left the meeting and on his way back to his office his dash cam caught the tanker on #rt495 flipping over! #tractortruckaccident #tankeflipped #marylandtanker #maryland495 pic.twitter.com/bzKYKjqvXg
— Alicia Tengwall (@LAMillennium) March 28, 2019
More from social media:
UPDATE HAZ MAT incident: tanker contains 8500 gallons of product and is activitely leaking. Crews are working aggressively to contain the product and stabilize the incident. #FCFRD https://t.co/jKui9rMAH4
— Fairfax Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) March 28, 2019
Update: ALL Inner Loop lanes are now closed at the American Legion Bridge. Pls use an alternate route. https://t.co/O13MnmKihO
— VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) March 28, 2019
Multiple vehicles involved, across all five lanes of the inner loop at the Legion Bridge, the tanker truck cab is over the jersey wall, northbound 495 is CLOSED #breakingnews #mdtraffic #vatraffic @nbcwashington pic.twitter.com/FbONV99KoX
— Brad Freitas (@Chopper4Brad) March 28, 2019
The left lane of the Inner Loop is only temporarily open in order to flush the queue through. Pls assume the American Legion bridge will be closed thru rush hour. Plan accordingly! pic.twitter.com/6wOmMbYmuH
— VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) March 28, 2019
UPDATE HAZ MAT incident I495 NB. Driver of the truck not injured. One minor injury from one of cars. #FCFRD #traffic pic.twitter.com/kTLUzFuioY
— Fairfax Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) March 28, 2019
