Guelph spill: Trucker and company charged after 4.5-kilometre leak

Guelph police have charged a truck driver and his employer after a resin spill contaminated about 4.5 kilometres of the Hanlon Expressway on Tuesday. The southbound lanes were closed for more than 10 hours, police said.

At about 2:30 p.m., a traffic officer saw liquid on the southbound roadway between College Avenue West and Downey Road. Near Downey Road, the officer found a tanker stopped on the shoulder and surrounded by a large pool of liquid, according to police.

Police identified the product as styrene resin, a highly flammable hazardous material. Investigators determined that the resin solution had leaked from the tanker because a hatch was improperly secured.

Closure and cleanup

All southbound lanes were closed between Speedvale Avenue West and Downey Road after the spill was deemed a significant fire hazard. The Ontario Provincial Police took command of the scene and maintained the closure during cleanup, while Guelph officers continued to assist.

The response also involved firefighters, provincial officials, city environmental staff, highway crews and specialized vehicles. The highway remained closed until approximately 12:45 a.m., police said.

Children taking part in activities at a nearby YMCA were moved indoors as a precaution because of concerns about fumes and the risk of ignition.

Charges laid

A 30-year-old Brampton man was charged with driving a commercial motor vehicle without conducting an inspection and failing to comply with federal safety standards by transporting an insecure load, police said.

A Calgary company was charged with failing to comply with safety standards and failing to ensure required performance standards were met. The occurrence number is GU26077696.