Intentional oil spill contained and suspect in custody
At approximately 2:10 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 13, Murfreesboro Fire Rescue responded to a hazardous oil spill from Volunteer Oil Services located at 129 Cannon Avenue between West Main Street and Bridge Avenue.
Ladder 1, Rescue 9, and Battalion Chief Daryl Alexander and Battalion Chief Joe Bell responded to the call. Upon arrival, they noticed a Murfreesboro Police officer had responded and noticed opened values on a 6,500-gallon tanker truck and two above ground storage tanks.
The officer shut off the values and MFRD placed absorbent booms to contain the spill. Volunteer Oil immediately contacted Premier Protective Services Inc. based in Nashville to respond with equipment to contain and cleanup the released material.
While approximately 20,000 gallons of used motor oil and soapy wastewater (detergent) in separate containers was intentionally spilled from tanks and containers at Volunteer Oil Services, a significant amount of the spill was contained.
- Approximately 10,000 gallons of the oil/water mix emptied into an existing containment berm required to contain a breach of the container.
- Another approximately 10,000 gallons emptied into an old railway spur line of dry ground area that empties into Lytle Creek.
- 6,500 gallons of antifreeze and wastewater mix from the tanker truck emptied into an area of dry ground.
- Approximately, 11,000 gallons of the estimated 20,000 gallons was released outside the containment.
As a precautionary measure Premier Protective Services has added booms to nearby local waterways. The area downstream from the spill will be monitored.
During the investigation at the refinery this morning a subject was revealed to be a potential suspect. This person returned to the scene and was taken into custody for questioning. During the interview, the suspect confessed to causing the hazardous material spill.
He was identified as Dustin Keener, 29, (dob 11-29-1988) of Murfreesboro. He has been charged by MPD with Vandalism $60,000-$250,000 and is currently being held at the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department under a $500,000 bond. (He was free on bond at the time of this event, therefore his bond amount is doubled). General Sessions Court date is set for January 24, 2019.
This is an ongoing investigation and additional charges are pending.
Representatives of Rutherford County Emergency Management and the Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, also responded to the scene.
