The Clermont Fire Department (CFD) responded to a major accident involving multiple semitrucks and a fuel leak.
The call came in about 8:10 a.m. Oct. 8 reporting a motor vehicle accident on the corner of U.S. Highway 27 and Lake Louisa Road. A fuel truck was crushed between two semi-trucks and had leaked about 100 gallons of fuel upon CFD’s arrival. An unknown amount of gas entered a nearby storm drain.
Four people were evaluated for injuries. One person was trapped with severe injuries and was flown to Orlando Regional Medical Center on a trauma alert; another was transported by ambulance to Orlando Health South Lake Hospital; and two others refused care.
U.S. 27 was shutdown going southbound for about six hours while Clermont firefighters worked the scene. Due to the severity of work and heat, Clermont Fire provided 12 fire units and Lake County Fire Rescue provided six units to successfully manage the call.
Crews successfully stopped the leaks, diked the storm drains and pumped off the diesel tanker and the leaking saddle tanks from one of the semitrucks.
Agencies that assisted with evaluating the environmental impact and redirecting traffic, included The Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Florida Department of Transportation and Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
One Clermont firefighter who sustained a minor injury on the scene was brought to urgent care for evaluation and released.
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