Hazmat situation at E. Garden of the Gods and Nevada Ave. after used oil spill

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Multiple crews responded to the area of E. Garden of the Gods and Nevada Ave. after a truck reportedly dropped gallons of used oil.

According to the Colorado Springs Police Department, the hazmat situation involved 200 gallons of used oil.

A KRDO crew at the scene was told two 200 gallons of orphan waste were found last night around 10 p.m. by the Streets Division.

When crews went to pick up the container, the machine they were using failed, causing the leak.

Two hundred gallons of used oil from a 500-gallon waste oil container fell into a storm drain. Some leaked into Monument Creek.

Responding crews built what is called an undercurrent dam to try and contain the oil as it seeped through the ground and into the creek. They also put a "hard boom" across the creek, which is a device that looks like a pool noodle and corrals oil as it rises to the top of the water.

Colorado Springs Utilities said the worst appears to have been avoided and the spill was stopped before it reached Pikeview Reservoir. Pikeview provided drinking water during warmer months.

The full impact of the spill is not yet known and the boom will remain in place overnight.

According to the CSFD, the east and westbound Garden of the Gods went down to one lane. CSFD reported heavy traffic and asks drivers to avoid the area.

Anyone in the area who witnessed the incident, police ask to call the CSPD dispatch at 719-444-7000.

This is a developing story.