Overturned propane delivery truck springs leak on Highway 162 closing main road into Round Valley for 48 hours while emergency crews respond to explosive hazard

COVELO, 11/11/21 — Highway 162 is now open, Cal Trans said in a Tweet just before noon today. The main path of travel to Round Valley was closed for roughly 48 hours after a delivery truck hauling 2,600 pounds of propane overturned and sprung a leak near mile marker 4, just above Outlet Creek, around 11:35 a.m. Tuesday. The driver suffered minor injuries, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) but is expected to recover. Drugs or alcohol were not thought to be a factor in the investigation and there were no criminal charges pending Wednesday.

This situation presented a significant risk of explosion if that fuel had found a source of ignition. The gas displaces regular air, which could asphyxiate people or wildlife nearby. It’s also heavier than air, so it seeks low points in the terrain as it expands. That combination of hazards is not an every day occurrence at crash scenes in Mendocino County.