There Was an Accident and a Sea of Goo, Too

A tanker truck spilled 3,000 gallons of sticky, black roofing material at a Laguna Hills road junction Monday afternoon, slowing traffic while cleanup crews attempted to remove the mess.

The cleanup was complicated by the fact that the mixture, which is similar to one commonly used as a road sealant, begins to harden on contact with air.

The gooey substance was examined and declared non-toxic by county hazardous materials specialists.

County workers were continuing the cleanup Monday night, officials said.

The accident occurred about 1 p.m. at the junction of Del Lago and Lake Forest drives when the truckload of material shifted during a turn, county Fire Department spokesman Joe Kerr said.

The truck was operated by Scholten Roofing Service of Laguna Hills and driven by Gary Schuetter, 25, of Laguna Niguel, Kerr said, adding that no injuries were reported.

The tanker’s contents coated the intersection to a depth of two feet in some spots, Kerr said. A nearby car also was doused with the substance.

Kerr said about 150 gallons of diesel fuel also leaked from the truck’s tanks, but the spill was contained before it could reach storm drains or flood control channels.