Route 1 in Southern New Castle County remains closed in both directions this afternoon.
It’s been closed since shortly before 9 a.m. this morning when a tanker carrying fuel overturned on southbound Route 1 near New Discovery Road.
The tanker was loaded with about 8,500 gallons of fuel, some of which leaked into ditches on both sides of the highway.
The driver of the tanker was flown to Christiana Hospital with serious injuries.
The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) is coordinating the cleanup effort. It’s expected to last into the evening hours – keeping Route 1 closed.
Southbound drivers are forced off at Middletown and northbound is closed at the North Smyrna exit.
That closure will affect the afternoon commute for drivers heading both directions on Route 1 – as well as alternate routes such as Route 13.
