The Newberry County Haz-Mat team, Prosperity Fire Department, local law enforcement and S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control responded to a fuel spill on Sunday.

Newberry County Haz-Mat Chief Jerry Koon says around 5 a.m. Sunday a truck driver was filling up his tank at the Wilco Hess station on Highway 773 at I-26 near Prosperity and had pulled beside a two-sided tank.

He only needed gas on one side of the truck so he laid the left fuel nozzle on the ground while he pumped from the right fuel nozzle. For the pump to operate, both nozzles had to be off the hook, said Koon.

After the trucker started pumping, he smelled fuel and noticed diesel fuel was flowing from the left nozzle onto the ground.

The trucker reported to the spill to the gas station employees.

Then someone tried to wash the diesel off the pavement without success and caused it to spread.

Gas station workers then called 911 was called about 8:30 a.m. Sunday to report the spill.

While the unsuccessful attempt as made to wash the diesel from the ground some spilled into a storm drain but was caught in the catch basin.

Koon says he guesses some 20 to 30 gallons of fuel was leaked in the incident.

There is some controversy if the valve malfunctioned or if the trucker put the nozzle in a locked or open position, said Koon. Also there is discussion if the driver or the station is responsible for the clean up.

A clean up crew from Clinton and the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control were called to the scene.

Local crews were able to leave the scene around 2:30 p.m. Sunday.