Oil tanker rollover closes Delhi Township road

An oil tanker rollover closed a stretch of Grovenburg Road early Friday while crews prepared to drain its cargo and remove the truck.

The crash happened about 2 a.m. Oct. 16 in Delhi Township, between Holt Road and Horstmeyer Road, according to the Ingham County Sheriff's Office. The driver lost control of the tanker. No injuries were reported.

Authorities expected the road to stay closed for several hours as first responders waited for heavy equipment. The oil inside the tank had to be drained before the truck could be removed.

Michigan tanker safety and cargo rules

Liquid cargo can affect a tanker's handling even when it stays inside the tank. The Michigan Commercial Driver's License Manual explains that liquid can surge in partially filled tanks and that a tanker's high center of gravity makes it easier to roll over. It warns drivers to take curves well below the posted speeds because tankers can overturn even at those limits.

Michigan also requires oil loads to be contained during highway travel. Under MCL 257.720, vehicles must be built or loaded to prevent their contents from escaping, with faucets and taps securely closed. Actual spillage isn't necessary to prove a violation, so unsafe containment can violate the law before oil reaches the road.

Michigan Legal Center explains how shifting loads and spilled truck cargo can create different road hazards and why responsibility depends on how the load was handled.

Get help from Michigan Legal Center

Michigan Legal Center: the Law Offices of Christopher J. Trainor & Associates handles injury claims involving commercial trucks and unsafe cargo.

If you've been injured in a tanker or other truck crash, Contact Michigan Legal Center to ask about a review of your circumstances and possible legal options.

There is no attorney fee unless money is recovered for you. Case costs and fee terms are governed by the written fee agreement.