Tanker crash into Indian Creek prompts Port Angeles 'do not drink' order; state says about 3,000 gallons spilled

State, local and tribal officials said a Petrocard tanker truck entered Indian Creek over the past 48 hours, releasing an estimated 3,000 gallons of fuel and prompting a precautionary "do not drink" order for Port Angeles while drinking-water testing continues.

Allison Myers, state on-scene coordinator for the Washington State Department of Ecology, said responders are working to "collect and remove gasoline and diesel" and that the "working volume" they are using for planning is about 3,000 gallons, mostly gasoline with a small amount of diesel. Myers said objectives include ensuring human health and safety and minimizing environmental, cultural and economic impacts. She directed residents who find potentially oiled wildlife to the oil-wildlife hotline and urged they not handle animals themselves.

Mayor Kate Dexter said the city shut down the water-treatment intake from the river and opened water-distribution sites at Civic Field and Shane Park. She said distribution lines were long but residents were patient and that the city had purchased emergency water supplies, though not enough for all demand. Dexter urged residents not to ingest tap water — "no drinking, no brushing your teeth, no washing dishes" — while tests are pending and asked for continued voluntary conservation.

Dennis Worsham, secretary of the Washington State Department of Health, said preliminary test results "look in our favor" but cautioned that scientists must complete their analyses; he said officials hoped to have more conclusive results within hours. Officials stressed that preliminary favorable results do not mean drinking water can be declared safe until all testing and expert review are complete.

The governor said response has involved multiple levels of government, tribal partners and private organizations and thanked responders and residents for rapid coordination and voluntary conservation. He said follow-up briefings and testing updates are planned.

Petrocard has been identified by company executives as the responsible party; Laura Yelling, Petrocard's president and CEO, said a medical event appears to have triggered the incident, that the company will conduct a full investigation and that the driver is recovering at home.

What happens next: testing will continue and officials said they will release definitive water-quality results when laboratory and public-health reviews are complete. Distribution sites remain in operation until the city and Department of Health lift the do-not-drink order.