Truck's Fuel Leak Causes Traffic Problems on Main Street Friday

Motorists experienced unexpected delays on Rte. 109 Friday afternoon because a large tractor trailer was leaking fuel from Pound Street to in Medfield.

The truck was travelling west on Rte. 109 Main Street in front of Medfield's town hall around 11:40 a.m. when the spill occurred, according to Medfield Chief of Police Robert E. Meaney Jr.

Medfield's Highway, Police and Departments responded to the scene and covered the fuel with sand while directing traffic around the affected areas.

"Cones were set up to keep traffic from crossing Rte. 109, while the truck was being attached to a tow truck and taken away," Meaney said. "The clean up was completed by a clean up crew only an hour or so after the truck was towed."

Meaney said some fuel leaked from one of the truck’s fuel tanks, causing traffic problems for approximately two-and-a-half hours while the town's departments on scene dealt with the leaking tank, towing the truck away and cleaning up the area.

"The Highway sanded the area of the spill and then swept it up with the assistance of the State Highway Department," Meaney said. "The State Department of Environmental Protection responded and oversaw the cleanup of the spill. None of the fuel reached any of the area catch basins, which made the clean up much simpler."

Meaney said traffic was back to normal in the center by 2 p.m. and the trucking company, Reinhart Food Service, will be cited by for defective equipment.