Truck carrying 40K litres of oil crashes, burns near Dawson Creek

Emergency officials are scrambling to clean up an oil spill in northern B.C. after a tanker truck crashed and burst into flames on Highway 49.

The province saysthe truckwas involved in an accident while crossing Pouce Coupe bridge, five kilometres east of Dawson Creek, around 7 a.m.Saturday.

It washauling 40,000 litres of crude oil. Officials saymost of the truck was consumed by fire after the accident.

The Dawson Creek Fire Department, the RCMP and an environmental emergency response officer all rushed to the scene.

The province saidthe driver of the truck was taken to hospital for treatment, but officials say he has since been released.

The bridge is closed in both directions until an engineer can confirm it's safe to reopen.

Officials say oil was spilled on the bridge and into the Pouce Coupe river. They have notsaid how much of the oil spilled onto the roadway and into the surrounding area, but that much of it burned in the fire.

Efforts are being made to contain what oil did spilldownstream with an absorbent boom.

Drive B.C. says there is a detour along 207 Road and Briar Ridge to Highway 2.