CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Authorities reopened Interstate 64 westbound in Charleston at around 2:30 p.m. Thursday after a tanker truck crash that occurred more than four hours earlier.
The driver of the tanker lost control of his rig just west of the Oakwood exit at just after 10 a.m. The crash and a small chemical leak forced the closure of all three westbound lanes.
Charleston Fire Department haz-mat team members were able to contain a small leak of the chemical butyl glycol. It took a few hours to transfer the chemical to another truck.
Kanawha County Metro 911 said the Oakwood westbound onramp would likely remain closed into the evening hours.
Not long after the wreck, Charleston police diverted all westbound traffic off the interstate at the Oakwood Road exit. It was then directed to MacCorkle Avenue and back onto I-64 at the Montrose Drive exit in South Charleston. Police also closed the Lee Street and Virginia Street onramps to reduce the volume of traffic.
The driver of the truck was taken to a hospital for treatment.
⚠ All lanes on I 64 west bound at the Oakwood exit are re-opened, however the Oakwood Road entrance to I 64 west bound will be closed for several more hours. The Virginia and Lee Street entrances to I 64 west bound will be open shortly
— Metro 911 (@KanawhaCoAlerts) January 2, 2020