SB I-75 at Ezzard Charles reopens after fuel leak

CINCINNATI - I-75 slowly reopened around midnight Thursday after all southbound lanes at Ezzard Charles Drive were shut down because of as many as 75 gallons of fuel being leaked onto the roadway.

Two lanes of I-75 reopened around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday. Those lanes were closed for nearly five hours.

Northbound traffic was also affected for a brief time as a result of the fuel leak.

According to a report from Cincinnati Fire and EMS, a truck suffered a broken drive shaft which caused its diesel tank to rupture and spill between 50 and 75 gallon of fuel across four lanes of I-75 around 5 p.m.

Jennifer Spicer, the public affairs representative for the Cincinnati Fire Department, told 9 On Your Side around 6:30 p.m. that the stretch of I-75 between Western Avenue and Gest Street was expected to fully reopen around 11:30 p.m. She said police successfully diverted travelers to side streets to avoid the closure.

The cause of the incident remains under investigation.

9 On Your Side and WCPO.com will update this story when more information becomes available.

View SB I-75 lanes closed in a larger map