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Police and firefighters are on the scene of a crash involving a gasoline tanker and a dump truck in front of the Cumberland Valley School District complex.
The crash this morning severed the gasoline holding tank, spilling about 3,500 gallons of fuel. A two-mile stretch of the Carlisle Pike is closed in both directions as crews pump the remaining gasoline out of the tanker.
Drivers are urged to avoid the area. The road is expected to remain closed through the evening hours.
"There was a gaping hole in the side where the tanker had split open," said Steven Krantz, who witnessed the crash. "Gasoline was literally gushing out of the side of the tanker, falling onto the street and right down into a storm drain which is less than 20 yards away."
The state Department of Environmental Protection and the Cumberland County Haz-Mat Team are working to absorb the gasoline runoff. They said the drinking water in the area was not contaminated and is safe to drink at this point. Soil cleanup could take several days.
Firefighters were worried about the environmental impact and also a potential explosion.
"That's always a threat," said Cumberland County spokesman John Bruetsch. "PPL was here. They shut the power down to the traffic signal which was the power in the general area. The tanker is into the traffic signal. That's been shut down. They have applied a blanket of foam to the area around the tanker."
Bruetsch said the drivers of both vehicles have been taken to area hospitals, but the extent of their injuries isn't known.
Students at Cumberland Valley High School, Eagle View Middle School and Silver Spring Elementary School were dismissed early and all activities on the campus were canceled. Away activities this evening will be held.
This is a developing story. abc27 News will provide more information as it becomes available.
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