DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A 7,500-gallon diesel tanker truck overturned along Browns Mill Ferry Road in DeKalb County, closing the busy roadway for an entire day. No injuries were reported and emergency officials confirmed that no fuel contaminated a nearby creek.
Police said the driver misjudged a turn along the winding road, sending the tanker off the roadway and onto its side just feet from nearby homes and a stream. First responders worked to bring the tanker upright again before thousands of gallons of diesel could leak into the water.
Channel 2’s Michael Doudna obtained records that indicate the vehicle is owned by Denson’s Transportation, a small transportation company based in the Atlanta metro area.
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Local residents described waking up to flashing lights and the smell of diesel fuel. Ramel Howard, who lives near the crash site, recalled his initial reaction upon seeing the scene.
“I didn’t know what it was. All I saw was blue and red lights,” Howard said. “I smelled gas and that’s when I saw the tank. I’m like, ‘Oh, that’s a gas tank. It done turned over!’”
Carissa Nelson, another nearby resident, expressed fear over potential fire hazards when she saw the overturned tanker.
“My first reaction was terrified because the first thing I was thinking was something was going to come by and catch on fire or anything of the sort,” Nelson said.
Neighbor Andre Powell questioned why large commercial tankers are permitted on the narrow, winding stretch of road.
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“It’s barely enough room for a vehicle, a regular vehicle, so I don’t even think why a tanker,” Powell said.
He also raised concerns about the danger posed to neighboring families.
“That’s dangerous, you got a lot of houses up there,” Powell said, adding, “It’s too dangerous.”
Records show this is not the first time a tanker belonging to Denson’s Transportation has overturned on a local roadway.
In 2017, one of the company’s trucks rolled over on Interstate 285 near Jonesboro Road, spilling 3,000 gallons of diesel fuel and forcing the interstate to close.
Doudna reached out for comment, and representatives for Denson’s Transportation said they had no comment at this time.
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