An environmental cleanup crew was called to Clinton Monday after a man dumped gallons of diesel fuel across parts of the city.
According to police Sgt. R.K. Dalton, the unnamed man attempted to sell a 500-gallon tin container that he was pulling on a trailer behind his Chevrolet Blazer at a local salvage yard around 2 p.m. “They told him they couldn’t buy it from him because it still had fuel inside,” Dalton said.
Instead of taking the container and emptying it properly, the man took a pick-axe and cut eight holes in the back of the tin, allowing the fuel to seep out as he headed back into Clinton. He left a fuel trail as he traveled.
“He drove down Railroad Street, Southeast Boulevard, Fontana and down Warsaw Road,” explained Dalton. “All the while, the gas was leaking from the back of that 500-gallon container.”
The car was stopped by police in the parking lot of the Tropicana Supermarket, located at 500 Warsaw Road, and environmental experts were called in from the Public Works Department. Also on hand were members of the Clinton Fire Department, Sampson County Emergency Management officials, EMS crews and the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office.
Chase Environmental was dispatched to clean up the miles of gas that was dumped all over Clinton streets, a task that could take hours to complete, officials noted.
“It is important to get this off the roadways and suck it out of the sewers, if some got in there,” said one environmental official, “just to be sure that it doesn’t get into the water supply.”
The man responsible was not named, but Dalton said charges were pending against him.
To reach Doug Clark call 910-592-8137 ext. 123 or email to sisports@heartlandpublications.com.
Editor's note: He had not been charged so officers will not release a name. Once he is charged, we will have his name and publish it.