‘Aggressive’ driver sought after fuel truck rollover closed QEW in Beamsville

Police are looking for the “aggressive” driver who failed to remain at the scene of a collision that caused a tractor trailer to roll over and leak thousands of litres of fuel into a ditch near the QEW in Beamsville Friday.

The incident happened around 8 a.m. when the driver of a black Mercedes two-door sedan cut off an SUV, which then collided with the fuel truck.

“As a result of that crash, the fuel tanker and that white car went into the ditch, rolled over and spilled fuel,” said Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Kerry Schmidt.

Of the 50,000 litres of gas and diesel being carried, Schmidt said approximately 15,000 litres spilled into the environment.

The driver of the fuel truck was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, while the driver of the white SUV was not injured.

Officers say the driver of the third vehicle fled the scene.

Rollover involving a fuel tanker truck: #QEW closed in both directions between Ontario Street Beamsville and Victoria Avenue. #BurlingtonOPP investigating, avoid the area. No reports of serious injuries. Expect delays and closures to remain in place for several hours. ^ks pic.twitter.com/7klvyAAqK2

— OPP Highway Safety Division (@OPP_HSD) January 12, 2024

The QEW was closed in both directions between Ontario Street and Victoria Avenue for nearly two hours. The Toronto-bound lanes reopened around 10:30 a.m.

The Niagara-bound lanes remained closed until shortly after 2 p.m. when Schmidt said police are working to reopen that direction of the highway.

However, police say that portion of the QEW will fully close again between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. Saturday following the winter storm so that crews can finish cleaning up.

Anyone with information to assist identifying the driver of this vehicle involved in the fuel tanker rollover collision – Fort Erie bound #QEW/Ontario St. Beamsville 7:50am Fri Jan 12 '24, please call #BurlingtonOPP – 905-681-2511 or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) ^ks pic.twitter.com/pE1aPCyn3q

— OPP Highway Safety Division (@OPP_HSD) January 12, 2024