FORKS — Workers late Tuesday afternoon deployed large airbags to right an overturned propane tank-trailer and semitruck that was driven into a ditch Monday evening 4 miles south of Forks on U.S. Highway 101.
State Patrol spokesperson Trooper Chelsea Hodgson said she expected 4 miles of the highway that was closed in both directions between Russell and Undi roads would be open to traffic by about 6 p.m. Tuesday.
The tanker was fully loaded with 10,000 gallons of propane that was transferred to another tanker, Hodgson said.
A residence was evacuated by fire department personnel as a precautionary measure. Hodgson did not know how many occupants were in the home.
There were no spills, she said.
Hodgson did not have information on ownership of the semitruck and tanker.
The State Patrol is investigating the cause of the crash.
The tanker was turned upright on its wheels by about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday
“It’s just a mop-up and cleanup of debris,” Hodgson said.
The 7:43 p.m. Monday crash near Fuhrman Road sent the 62-year-old Yelm tanker-truck driver to Forks Community Hospital with minor injuries and caused the evacuation of one residence, Hodgson said.
A hazardous materials team was at the crash site Tuesday.
“From a visual inspection, everything appears to be intact,” Hodgson said earlier Tuesday.
The driver was travelling northbound on Highway 1o1 and drove into a ditch, she said.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
