A diesel spill south of Princeton along Highway 3 has reduced the road to single alternating traffic and contaminated a nearby creek.

According to DriveBC, the highway five kilometres east of Eastgate was closed because of the spill which occurred around 10 am. Just before 1 pm the highway was reopened to single alternating traffic. According to the Ministry of Environment, the incident involved a diesel transport truck. The truck is believed to have lost its trailer which had approximately 20,000L of diesel fuel.

An undetermined amount entered the nearby Saturday Creek, which flows into the Similkameen River. The Ministry of Environment has a response officer on site and the trucking company has retained RAM Environmental as an emergency response contractor.

The ministry has notified the Lower and Upper Similkameen Bands, Interior Health and Washington State about the incident.

“Do not use the river water if it smells or tastes like fuel. This includes for irrigation or agricultural purposes. Diesel fuel can pose a health risk following ingestion, inhalation and skin absorption,” said Interior Health in a statement.

Interior Health has issued an advisory to those who draw water from the Similkameen River as a result of the spill. It is asking residents to be on the lookout for signs of fuel contamination. Residents who have private water sources that draw from the river, or from shallow wells near the river in the affected area are advised to avoid use of the water if they smell or taste fuel, or if they see a fuel sheen on the surface of the water.