Emergency crews were called to a rollover involving a semi-trailer unit near Highway 39 between Estevan and North Portal.
Members of the Estevan RCMP, the Estevan Fire Rescue Service and the North Portal International Fire Department were called to the scene early Monday morning.
“The tractor trailer unit was found on its side, and threatening to roll over into the ditch,” said Fire Chief Dale Feser. “There was a breach of the tank, and the tank’s contents was an emulsion consisting of sweet crude as well as salt water.”
The semi was carrying approximately 30,000 litres of sweet crude oil, and was leaking. The Estevan fire department responded after a mutual aid request from their counterparts in North Portal.
Estevan and North Portal fire departments protected the environment from further contamination using hazardous materials procedures.
The incident occurred 20 kilometres southeast of Estevan on a grid road just south of Highway 39. The highway remained open after the accident, but motorists were asked to slow down in the area, as emergency vehicles were parked on the shoulder of the highway.
Speed appears to be a contributing factor in the incident, and the driver of the semi truck was charged with driving a vehicle without due care and attention under the Traffic Safety Act.
The driver was wearing a seatbelt when the incident occurred, and did not suffer any injuries.
