Photo courtesy of Washington Department of Transportation.

 Updated – Thursday, Feb. 24, 2011

A semi rig fuel truck hauling 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel overturned Wednesday morning during a snowstorm near an area local residents are citing as the Fletcher Creek area near the Lower Hoh Road at milepost 167.

A Washington State Patrol report says the truck went off Highway 101 at about 9:45 a.m. on Wednesday morning, Feb. 23, about 25 miles south of Forks. No injuries were reported. Up to 3,500 gallons of fuel spilled, according to a WSP report. The driver, Donald Inzunza, 43, of Shelton, escaped uninjured.

A report from the WSP says Inzunza entered a corner on 101 to the left, the rear trailer of the double-trailer rig lost traction causing the 2008 Kenworth Tractor and 2000 Beall tanker trailer to go into the northbound ditch, coming to rest on its side. 

Flaggers and pilot cars are on the scene and the northbound lane in the area is being closed for two to three days while cleanup continues.

The Hoh and Quileute tribes brought their state Department of Ecology-provided spill response

trailers to the scene. The trucking company has also hired Cowlitz Clean Sweep to prevent further damage from the spell and to undertake the clean up. 

Some of the fuel leaked from the truck in an area potentially could leach the fuel into the Hoh River and other environmentally sensitive areas. A state Department of Ecology crew was dispatched to the scene. On again, off again snow storms crossing the West End during the day may complicate the clean up.