Fifeville group seeks signage to discourage truck traffic on narrow streets following diesel spill

On the morning of Friday, November 14, 2024, a tractor trailer with the company Sysco heading south from West Main Street attempted to turn left on 6 ½ Street onto Dice Street in the northern section of the Charlottesville’s Fifeville neighborhood. 

Video footage captured by an adjacent property owner’s camera shows the driver attempting to make the turn. At seven seconds in, the driver moves left onto Dice Street and the footage shows vegetation brushed against as it tries to go through a very sharp corner.

An incident report filed with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality reports that the tractor trailer struck a post.

At eight seconds in the footage, there is a very audible crunching sound. 

The video footage immediately shows a pinkish liquid emerging from the vehicle. For the next four seconds, a pool of diesel floods out. 

Then the truck backs up.

“Caller reported that the diesel tank hit a post and leaked an unknown amount of diesel fuel onto the roadway and into a nearby storm drain,” reads the DEQ report. “Caller stated that the diesel tank’s maximum capacity is 50 gallons, however is unsure about the total amount spilled.”

Over the next 15 seconds, the tractor trailer attempts to back up again and at 29 seconds, there appears to be another conflict with the pole. Meanwhile, the pink diesel is now flowing east on Dice Street. 

At 42 seconds, the driver is continuing to attempt to back up. The pink diesel is about to escape the frame, but there is still a steady flow from the ruptured tank. 

A man in a blue coat with a gray hat walks past and doesn’t stop to intervene. 

Cars driving past do not know immediately what has happened. 

At 1:36 into the video footage, a man steps into what is now a sheen of pink diesel fuel on the roadway.  The flood appears to be slowing. The man looks down and walks past and is out of frame by 1:49. 

When such incidents happen, there are companies that are hired to provide clean-up of the hazardous materials. 

The company SMR Rapid Response were on scene to handle the efforts. According to the DEQ report, booms and pads were put into place but the diesel entered the watershed and Tonsler Creek. The tank can hold 50 gallons but it was unclear what amount spilled. The report estimates between 30 and 50 gallons.

Members of the city’s Fifeville Neighborhood Association are now urging the city to post signs to tell drivers of tractor trailers to not use the small streets north of Cherry Avenue to get to Main Street. A message from the FNA’s secretary states that the city has responded that will order such signs. 
More information on this in the next edition of the Charlottesville Community Engagement newsletter.

Before you go: So this one is different. I was producing the November 16, 2024 edition of the radio show I do for WTJU. I had a minute gap to fill. At the same time, I was monitoring this story and knew I’d have to get out something as quickly as possible. This is that story. An updated version will also be in the next Charlottesville Community Engagement.