10:45 p.m. This story has been updated.
The County of Stettler is taking every possible precaution after a tanker truck hauling diesel fuel rolled near the Content Bridge by Nevis on Thursday afternoon, landing on its side in a creek.
The creek eventually leads into the Red Deer River.
According to Yvette Cassidy, the county's assistant CAO, no one was killed in the collision. She spoke to the Independent around 7 p.m. A press release issued later that evening indicated the driver of the truck suffered minor injuries.
She said that Stettler Regional Fire and Rescue, concerned about the proximity of the spill to the river, called in reinforcements to help contain any possibly spilt gasoline.
Notifications were made to Stettler Emergency Management Services, Alberta Transportation's Dangerous Good, Stettler Water Treatment Facility, Alberta Environment and Parks, Alberta Emergency Management and Alberta One call.
The lid on the second trailer of the tanker truck had come open in the collision and it was leaking, Cassidy confirmed, but noted that staff had managed to get it closed. The truck will not be righted until crews are sure there are no more leaks, she said.
Emergency crews created soil berms, brought in inflatable ones from Ponoka, and are using floating booms to curtail the flow of fuel into the creek and downriver to the Red Deer River. As the collision happened upstream of the Town of Stettler water treatment plant, the plant is now drawing water from a reservoir as a precaution. and according to the county press release, is not anticipated to be a "long term" situation.
The cleanup is estimated to take until June 10.
The incident closed both lanes of the highway for a few hours; as of writing, one lane is still closed as RCMP and other emergency services work on scene.