Interstate 76 was closed at Bromley Lane in Brighton for about three hours as crews cleaned an oil spill caused by a Chevy pickup that veered across traffic.
John Bradley, a spokesman for Brighton Police, said the accident happened just after 5 p.m.
A man in his 50s who was driving the pickup was in the eastbound lanes and crossed into westbound traffic, hitting a semi-trailer head on, Bradley said.
The semi-trailer — carrying two tankers filled with crude oil — “veered about 150 to 200” feet and eventually ended in the eastbound lanes and lost its second tanker as it rolled on the highway.
There is no estimate as to how much oil was spilled, but Bradley said each of the tankers had a capacity for about 80 barrels of oil.
Westbound lanes were reopened just after 7 p.m., and eastbound lanes were open by 8 p.m.
The driver of the pickup was airlifted to a nearby hospital, with unknown injuries.
The driver of the semi was not injured.
State Patrol and hazmat crews worked to get the tanker upright and clean up the spill.
An investigation is underway to determine why the driver of the pickup veered into on-coming traffic.
