Westport firefighters found themselves in a fishy situation early Monday evening when a truck carrying 2,500 pounds of live fish belonging to a Brooklyn distributor rolled over on I-95 south between exits 17 and 16.
When firefighters arrived, they found a flatbed truck on its side and the fish spilled on the highway.
Ten gallons of diesel fuel had also spread along the highway and a 300-pound tank of liquid oxygen was leaking, Shift Commander William Dingee said in a release. Firefighters worked to control the fuel leak and turned the liquid oxygen tank upright to reduce the volume of the leak.
The driver of the truck was not harmed. The load of fish was condemned by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection and will be destroyed.
The truck was towed from the scene by Buds Truck Service of Bridgeport. The fish were also transported to Buds for holding until they can be properly disposed of under the direction of Consumer Protection.
The liquid oxygen tank was submerged in a 3,000-gallon tank of water, where it was safely discharged. The tank was supplied by the Weston Fire Department.
In addition to firefighters, the state police, Connecticut Department of Transportation and Department of Environmental Protection responded. Cleanup on the scene lasted until about 10 p.m.
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