mmg.com.au

A truck driver could be fined for causing roads in Shepparton’s central business district to be closed after damaging his truck’s petrol tank and blocking a roundabout yesterday.

Nearby signs tell drivers no trucks are to enter the city and the penalty for driving past a no-trucks sign is a $422 fine.

Just before 11am the driver of the truck, owned by a Laverton North company, damaged the fuel tank as he was negotiating the Vaughan St roundabout at Maude St.

The driver drove about 200m to the roundabout at Corio St, clipped a tree while trying to turn right and came to a stop in the middle of the roundabout.

Diesel was leaked along the length of Vaughan St.

While the truck was stranded in the roundabout firefighters tried to block the leak, but diesel continued to flow out of the tank towards a nearby stormwater drain.

A Country Fire Authority hazardous materials unit was called to assist crews.

The sight of the B-double truck marooned in the roundabout drew a crowd of onlookers — including some who thought it a good chance to have a cigarette.

Sections of Vaughan and Corio Sts were blocked off until about 2pm.

A Greater Shepparton City Council spokesperson said staff attended to ensure the diesel was cleaned up correctly and did not affect the environment.

The spokesperson said sand was poured on the diesel to absorb it before it got into the stormwater drains.

Once the diesel was absorbed a street-sweeper was brought in to do a clean-up of the area.