Leaking gasoline tanker in Woodmere prompts evacuations

A leaking gasoline tanker in a Woodmere neighborhood prompted evacuations and closed two streets in both directions Thursday morning as crews attempted to clean up the fuel, Nassau County police said.

About 45 homes were evacuated after the tanker truck leaked about 2,000 gallons, The Associated Press reported.

Nassau County police say the crash happened at about 6 a.m. Police issued a traffic advisory at 6:10 a.m. that Peninsula and Woodmere boulevards were closed and that motorists were advised to use alternate routes.

The truck, traveling north on Peninsula Boulevard, hit a tree branch near Lafayette Drive, causing the front of the tank to rupture.