UPDATE: Tanker driver remains in hospital; no decision on charges

UPDATE (Monday, Aug. 29): Police said they are trying to find a bicyclist who witnessed last week’s crash of a tanker that spilled 8,000 gallons of fuel in the Motor City area of south Colorado Springs.

“We’re hoping to talk with that person before a decision is made on whether to file charges against the tanker driver,” said Lt. Howard Black.

Meanwhile, Black said the driver remains in a local hospital. His condition is unknown and his identity has not been released.

Kyle Davidson of Colorado Parks and Wildlife said the department should have better knowledge Tuesday about how many fish were killed when the fuel drained into Fountain Creek.

“The rain we’ve had should dilute any remaining fuel to the point where it’s no longer deadly,” he said.

(Saturday, Aug. 27) A tanker truck crash in Colorado Springs has spilled thousands of gallons of gasoline into a creek, killing a slew of fish.

The tanker flipped after striking a parked, unoccupied vehicle, authorities said, and slid into a curb, spilling fuel from ruptured compartments inside the tanker.

Authorities said when they arrived, fuel was draining into the stormwater system through a nearby storm drain.

Part of Motor City Drive was closed because of the risk of explosions.

Kyle Davidson, a spokesman for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, says cleanup crews were pulling dead fish out of a creek “by the bucket.”

The agency expects to know exactly how many fish were killed and which species were most affected in a few days. The creek is home to numerous fish, including longnose dace, white suckers and fathead minnows.

As of Saturday afternoon, Environmental Protection Agency had finished the initial cleanup of the spill. It was using vacuum trucks to suck up the gasoline. Cleanup crews were picking up booms that morning.

Officials believe most of the spill has moved down the creek and has been diluted. They won’t have concrete details until testing of the water returns.

Police believe speed played a role in the crash.

The driver was taken to a local; hospital.