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Police cite a driver after his truck's fluid leak closed roads for two hours.
By Times staff writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published December 12, 2001
NEW PORT RICHEY -- A garbage truck dumped about 40 gallons of hydraulic fluid on city streets Tuesday morning, rendering 10 blocks a slippery mess.
"You just followed the spill and it led right to the garbage truck," said Cpl. Richard Burke of New Port Richey police. "You couldn't miss it."
The affected roads -- Grand Boulevard, Bank Street and Nebraska Avenue -- were closed for two hours as Waste Aid Systems officials, police, New Port Richey firefighters and a deputy from the Pasco County sheriff's agriculture unit cleaned the spill.
The truck's driver, Andrew Dowdell of Spring Hill, was cited for operating unsafe equipment, Burke said.
About 7:50 a.m., at Queener Avenue and Grand Boulevard, the truck's arm, which lifts garbage, started leaking fluid, Burke said.
Dowdell didn't know it.
He drove south on Grand Boulevard, turned south on Bank Street and then turned east on Nebraska Avenue. At Jefferson Street, he noticed the leak, Burke said.
Police saw several near accidents at Bank and Main Street.
"As (cars) slowed down, they would just slide," Burke said.
The roads were reopened by 10 a.m., Burke said.