A tanker truck that leaked more than 600 gallons of vegetable oil forced the closing of township roads on mid-afternoon Thursday, Oct. 4.
The truck belonged to Environmental Energy Recycling Corporation of Allentown, Pa.
Police responded to calls at 3:17 p.m. and closed portions of Triangle, More, Farm and Stockton roads due to slick conditions for about 12 hours. A private company was dispatched by the tanker’s company to clean all the roadways.
No oil reached any streams, but it did get into two storm drains, which were later contained and cleaned up by the company.
In addition to police and the rescue squads, all three township fire companies were called out, as well as the Somerset County Hazmat team, the township and county public works departments, the state Department of Environmental Protection and the township fire safety, emergency management and health departments.
Charges are pending, but might be unlikely because the accident was due to the mechanical failure of a valve. Township police are waiting to see if DEP will pursue charges, said Chief Paul Kaminsky.

