Highway 166 tanker crash spills oil into Cuyama River

An oil tanker crashed early Saturday morning on Highway 166 west of Tepusquet Road in Santa Barbara county.

The tanker released roughly 6,000 gallons of crude oil into an upstream area of the Cuyama River, according to a media release by the County of San Luis Obispo Health Agency.

Some portions where the oil leaked into the river are located in San Luis Obispo County. The report says the impact to the river appears to be minor.

The crude oil traveled about 2 miles downstream and is currently contained in an underflow dam near the U.S. Forest Service Pine Canyon Fire Station.

Multiple emergency and public health agencies responded to the scene to assist with mitigation and cleanup efforts, the media report said.

Clean-up efforts will be continuing by Santa Barbara County Fire and the California Highway Patrol.

This story was updated to change name of the river to the Cuyama River.

This story was originally published March 21, 2020 at 6:38 PM.