KINGS MOUNTAIN – A crash involving a gasoline tanker closed a stretch of U.S. 27 last Friday for several hours as first responders worked to clean up a large volume of gasoline that leaked from the truck.

The collision happened at about 9 a.m. Friday morning on U.S. 27, just before Hwy. 501, and involved an 8,000-gallon tanker and a minivan. Both drivers were treated for minor injuries at Fort Logan Hospital in Stanford.

The incident kept the road closed to traffic for about 12 hours, with drivers being detoured onto Ky. 1247, according to Lincoln County Emergency Management officials.

Stanford Fire Department’s Hazardous Materials Unit responded to the scene and residents living in the area were instructed to stay inside with windows closed while they worked to clean up the leaked gasoline.

Approximately 2,500 gallons leaked from the tanker, Stanford Fire Chief Scott Maples said.

The Hazmat Unit deployed absorbent booms in multiple areas to soak up the gasoline and cleared the scene in about three hours, Maples said. Other crews remained on scene until about 9:30 p.m., he added.