Fuel spill clean-up on US195 still underway

COLFAX— The truck that lost control causing the trailer to tip over, spilling 6000 gallons of fuel three miles south of Colfax Sunday, Jan. 15 clean-up is still underway.

Reports state that Washington Department of Ecology (DOE) crews are removing contaminated soil next to the highway where the fuel was spilled, causing the highway to be cut down to one lane near Prune Orchard Road.

Officials say there is no fuel sheen on the South Fork of the Palouse River downstream in Colfax, according to reports.

DOE is trying to determine how much soil under the highway pavement is contaminated, reports state. Depending on the extent of the spill Washington State Department of Transportation might need to tear up the highway to get to the contaminated soil underneath.

According to reports there how long the clean-up will take is still unknown.

Joshua L. Blas, 31, of Reardan was driving southbound when he allegedly swerved to miss a cat in the roadway, causing the trailer to roll.