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Talk about a crappy situation! The California hazmat team was needed after a septic truck rolled over. Things could have been worse as the tanker truck only spilled diesel, soap, and water near a local creek. 

California hazmat team responds to septic truck accident 

A California hazmat team was needed at the scene of an accident around 5:21 am, after a septic truck rolled over on 4500 Silverado Trial North road, south of Calistoga. 

The septic tanker truck was involved in a solo accident that injured two people. Luckily the truck wasn’t transporting any waste at the time. 

However, about 30 gallons of diesel, soap, and water spilled into a nearby ditch, potentially contaminating the soil and local water sources. 

According to KTVU, Napa County interagency team Hazmat-27 responded to the scene. The unit is part of the Cal Fire department. Police officers also responded to the incident. 

Firefighters pulled the driver and passenger out of the septic tanker truck. One man was airlifted to the Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. He suffered major injuries and the air ambulance was with the Sonoma County Fire District. 

The other man was hospitalized with minor injuries. He was taken to the Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center via ambulance. 

A septic truck on the road
Septic truck | iStock

During the time of the incident, it was dark and frigid with a frost advisory. Police officers are investigating the case of the accident and speculate that the driver may have fallen asleep. 

The truck had a 60-gallon diesel tank that ruptured. Also, the team quickly contained the fuel, and it didn’t reach a creek nearby. 

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has been notified about the spill. The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and Napa County Environmental Health Division were also notified. 

Also, the road was closed for hours due to the collision and hazmat response. Now all lanes have been reopened.

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Allison Barfield

Allison Barfield joined MotorBiscuit in 2020 and covers all things trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps. Having grown up on a farm in Rock Hill, South Carolina, she’s no stranger to the “Best in Class” truck and SUV debates; people in her hometown were always gathering to help work on vehicles together, and deliberation would naturally arise.

Allison graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Media Arts. She has helped bring awareness to issues Women In Trucking face and has promoted Truckers Against Trafficking, an anti-trafficking NGO.

A fan of creatively dark literature, Allison appreciates the works of Shirley Jackson and Emily Dickenson. She lives in a mountainous area of the country and enjoys off-roading and camping. Her dog, Bruce, often joins her in testing trucks and SUVs for our site.