River fears as alcohol spills in tanker crash

FIREFIGHTERS battled for hours to stop thousands of litres of alcohol from spilling into the River Almond.

A tanker containing 30,000 litres of 94 per cent proof alcohol was involved in a collision with a car on the A71 at Muirhall Bonds near Addiewell yesterday morning.

The 52-year-old car driver was seriously injured and taken by ambulance to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. The tanker driver suffered minor injuries, and was also taken to ERI as a precautionary measure.

The tanker overturned and hit a fence, spilling more than 6000 litres of alcohol on to the road.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used a mixture of foam and dry sand to contain and absorb the highly-flammable liquid, which was at risk of exploding, and to prevent contamination of surrounding wildlife.

Tom Kane, Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue group manager, said: "At 8.41am we were called to a collision involving a tanker and a car outside North British Distillery. We extricated one male casualty from the car using hydraulic cutting gear and he was taken by ambulance to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

"The tanker had ruptured. It was full of 94 per cent proof alcohol and some of it was spilling."

Seven fire appliances, from Bathgate, Livingston, Marionville, Liberton and Newcraighall, and an investigation unit from Newbridge, attended the scene initially, and were replaced by two relief crews at 5pm.

A chemical team was set up, involving fire service hazard officers, officers from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and a regional analyst, to assess the risk of contamination of the River Almond from the 6000 litres of spilled alcohol.

Cordons were set up around the accident scene and fire crews worked throughout the day to make the scene safe before accident investigations could be carried out. A recovery vehicle arrived at 7pm to move what was left of the tanker's contents.

A Sepa spokeswoman said: "Officers from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency were contacted by Lothian and Borders Police this morning and asked to attend the site of a tanker crash at the North British Warehouse Distillery, West Calder.

"Concerns surrounded leaking spirits and fuel, as well as the foam used to contain the spill.

"Our officers have inspected the local watercourses and are satisfied that there has been no serious pollution.

"Details of foam used and spirit loss will be obtained early next week and Sepa officers will visit the site again to recheck watercourses."

The A71 was closed both ways near the scene, with traffic diverted at West Calder via the A704, and the A706 Breich Cross traffic lights.

The road remained closed well into the evening.

A police spokeswoman said: "We are asking anyone who was in the area at the time, and who may have seen exactly what happened in the moments leading up to the collision, to contact us."

Anyone with information can contact police on 0131-331 3131.