Middletown, CT — An oil truck accident on Washington Street in Middletown brought traffic to a standstill morning of Tuesday, Feb. 11, after the vehicle overturned and leaked a large amount of heating oil onto the roadway.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) confirmed that Route 66 West has been closed between Camp Street and Old Mill Road.
The incident occurred near the Home Depot and Staples plazas on Route 66, leading to emergency closures and a multi-agency response.
According to the authorities, cleanup efforts are ongoing and traffic remains heavily congested.
Although eastbound traffic is allowed to pass through with delays, the CTDOT encouraged drivers to avoid the area altogether and to use Westfield Street and other alternate routes.
Both the Middletown Police and Fire departments were among the first responders to the scene.
Meanwhile, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection arrived shortly afterward to assist with managing the hazardous spill.
In a statement, Middletown Police reported the containment processes would likely take six to eight hours, warning that Washington Street may remain closed for much of the day.
No injuries have been reported, but police cautioned about risk posed by the large spill of heating oil.
Local impact and detours
The location of the spill near the busy shopping district has also caused significant disruption to both local businesses and commuter traffic.
The authorities stated that several businesses along Washington Street have remained open but are experiencing reduced customer flow due to limited access.
Drivers are advised to plan ahead, avoid Route 66 if possible, and monitor traffic reports for further updates. Westfield Street is also endorsed as an alternative route.
For now, media outlets covering the incident have been directed to stage their reports from the Staples Plaza parking lot.
