Lavaca County neighbors
Fayette County Sheriff's Office
U.S. 77 closure

Oil tanker shuts down Highway 77 Sunday

HAZMAT team called after truck’s contents spill everywhere near La Grange

 

  • Tanker overturns Sunday coming into LasGrange, spilling oily mud all over the road and requiring specialized HAZMAT team cleanup.
    Tanker overturns Sunday coming into LasGrange, spilling oily mud all over the road and requiring specialized HAZMAT team cleanup.

    A trucker hauling a tanker full of oil-based mud shut down U.S. Highway 77 for about five hours last weekend after he attempted the stretch of road past a residential area commonly referred to as “the Bluff” just south of La Grange and failed.

    Fayette County Sheriff Keith Korenek issued a press release at 2:49 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 7, reporting that the 18-wheeler had overturned along the highway coming into town from the Schulenburg.

    It would likely close the road for several hours to clean up the mess caused by the ruptured tanker spilling its contents about a half mile south of La Grange.

    That stretch of U.S. 77, the Bluff, is known for its rather steep grade and extremely winding road that overlooks the Colorado River Valley below. 

    Several thousand gallons of the oil-based substance covered the road and seeped down into the cliff side ditches, requiring the cleanup services of a specialized HAZMAT team.

    Working the scene were Fayette County’s Sgt. Charles Jobb, Deputy James Ulbig and Deputy Michael Krenek, along with the La Grange Volunteer Fire Department and the Fayette County EMS.

    Traffic was rerouted via the Hostyn cutoff, which, incidentally, is the posted truck route before drivers begin the winding descent at the Bluff. 

    Deputies reported the roadway reopened just after 8 p.m. that same day. No additional information was provided on the driver.