Tanker Truck Crashes Into Indian Creek, Driver Injured

Published 1:30 am Thursday, July 24, 2025

July 18, 2025-A semi-truck hauling a flammable liquid left U.S. Highway 101 and plunged down a steep embankment into Indian Creek Friday morning, resulting in a personal injury collision and hazmat concerns.

According to the Washington State Patrol, the crash occurred at approximately 10:23 a.m. near milepost 238.4. The truck was traveling westbound when it failed to navigate a right-hand turn and veered off the highway, careening down a 200- to 300-foot embankment before landing upside down in the creek.

The driver, identified as 58-year-old Thomas L. Schaw of Port Angeles, was transported by aid to Olympic Medical Center with undisclosed injuries. He was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. The State Patrol cited Schaw for negligent driving in the second degree.

The crash involved a silver 2022 Western Star tractor and a 2019 Heil tanker trailer, both of which were totaled.

No other vehicles or persons were involved in the crash, and drugs or alcohol were not considered factors.

Preliminary estimates on Saturday indicated 3,000 gallons of a mixture of gasoline and diesel, with the majority being gasoline, spilled into Indian Creek, the Sheriff’s Office stated in a joint press release.

Drivers were diverted around the closure using State Highway 112, WSDOT said.

Highway 101 remained closed until Saturday morning, the State Patrol said. In addition to travel being impacted the city of Port Angeles issued a “do not drink” water order for all city utility customers.

Friday’s tanker truck collision into Indian Creek caused petroleum products to enter the water. Indian Creek flows into the Elwha River, which is Port Angeles’ main source for drinking water.

Water testing was directed by the state Department of Health, according to an alert sent Sunday morning by the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office. The city of Port Angeles has since lifted a “do not drink” water order for all city utility customers that was in place for most of the day Sunday.