by MICHAEL FRAZIER
A tanker-truck cartwheeled yesterday afternoon in Queens just after exiting the Whitestone Expressway, injuring the driver and sending at least 3,000 gallons of diesel fuel streaming across the roadway, New York police said.
Authorities used a crane to right the overturned truck and remove it nearly six hours after the 1:39 p.m. crash on the exit ramp for Northern Boulevard in Flushing.
Some roadways in the area were temporarily closed, but were reopened shortly after the tanker was removed.
The cause of the crash is being investigated.
Police said the driver, who suffered minor injuries to his neck, was traveling northbound on the Whitestone Expressway before taking the exit for Northern Boulevard.
On the exit ramp, the 5,000-gallon tanker suddenly flipped and struck a concrete retaining wall, landing on its side and blocking the exit as fuel gushed, police said.
The unidentified driver was taken to New York Hospital Medical Center of Queens. His condition was unknown yesterday, but police said his injuries were not life-threatening.
Police, firefighters and members of the New York Fire Department's hazardous materials team responded to the crash and contained the spill. As the sun set, hazmat workers in silver-colored hazardous material suits climbed about the tanker. Sand was spread on the exit and roadway to soak up the fuel.
Another 5,000-gallon tanker truck was brought to the scene to unload the remaining fuel into its reservoir, officials said.
It was unclear yesterday where the truck was headed or who owned it. The driver was not issued any summonses.
Emerson Clarridge contributed to this story.
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