Fuel spill in Batavia kept out of creek

A semitrailer truck Friday afternoon spilled about 50 gallons of diesel fuel that ended up in Batavia’s stormwater sewer pipes, according to a news release from the Batavia Fire Department.

Batavia firefighters were called at 1:58 p.m. to Kirk and Douglas roads, authorities said, after the truck’s drive shaft broke apart, tearing off the fuel connections between the truck’s two saddle tanks.

The fire department was able to stop the flow of the fuel in the sewer before it made it to Mahoney Creek, a tributary of the Fox River, according to the release. Cleanup lasted until 5 p.m.

In addition to fire crews from the Fermilab and North Aurora, a hazardous-materials cleanup company was brought in.

The cause of the truck’s mechanical failure is not yet known, officials said.