UPDATE: Route 3 Reopens After Tanker Crash

Tuesday morning’s rush hour is “looking good” after a fuel spill on Route 3 in Bowie, according to a Prince George’s County fire department official.

The spill was caused by a three-vehicle crash involving a gasoline tanker carrying nearly 9,000 gallons of gasoline, according to Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department.

The accident, which occurred on Route 3 near the intersection with Route 450 around 9:30 p.m. Monday, had shut down the roadway, but all lanes were reopened as of 7 a.m., NBC Washington reported.

The tanker driver was hospitalized for minor injuries. The occupants of the other two vehicles declined treatment, according to a fire department news release.

David Buck, State Highway Administration spokesperson, told Patch that while the incident was serious, it was not nearly as bad as it could have been because there were no serious injuries and the gasoline tanker didn’t rupture.

Thus, the environmental impact was minimal, allowing Maryland’s Department of the Environment to easily perform a cleanup, Buck said.

“It was tenuous when they were bringing the gasoline tanker upright, but because the amount of gasoline that spilled was only a small amount, they were able to clean it up very quickly,” he said. “You couldn’t even smell any gasoline at the scene.”

Forest Drive is one of the few residential areas near the crash. The street empties directly onto Route 3, and the highway is the only access to the neighborhood. Thus, from the time of the crash until the re-opening of Route 3 in the morning, several dozen residents were unable to either get in and or out of their neighborhood.

“I was very fortunate,” said Forest Drive resident Mary Sierco Tuesday morning after the highway had re-opened. “I got home before it happened, and haven’t had to go anywhere since then. Other people had to get out and couldn’t.”