Gas spill cleanup complete, fire rescue says

TAMPA -- Roads are clear again after a tanker truck overturned near 22nd Street and Maritime Boulevard, releasing nearly 8,000 gallons of gasoline into a retention pond near the Port of Tampa on Friday, Tampa Fire Rescue said.

While a full environmental cleanup will take more time, roads that were shut most of Friday were open again Saturday morning, a Fire Rescue spokeswoman said.

The tanker from Florida Rock & Tank Lines was leaving the port shortly after noon Friday when it flipped onto its side. The driver, Oliver Pina, 35, of Lakeland, was taken to Tampa General Hospital with minor injuries. He will be cited for driving too fast for conditions, authorities said.

Both the bridge and 22nd Street remained closed for most of the rest of the day as workers rushed to contain the spill and keep the gasoline from draining McKay Bay. Tampa Fire Rescue plans to bill the trucking company for the cost of the cleanup.

--S.I. ROSENBAUM