RIG FLIPS, SPILLS 8,000 GALLONS OF GASOLINE

BENTON, Mo. -- A tanker overturned on Interstate 55 Sunday morning, spilling about 8,000 gallons of gasoline and diverting traffic into the late afternoon.

The truck driver, Marvie Dunn, 30, of Sikeston, injured in the accident, was admitted to St. Francis Medical Center.

He had been driving an International tractor-trailer in the southbound on Interstate 55 about five miles south of Benton when he lost control of the vehicle and ran off the road. The tractor-trailer overturned and gasoline spilled out.

Most of the gasoline spilled into the median and not on the highway, said a spokesman for the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Some of the gasoline was spilled on the interstate.

Both southbound lanes of traffic were diverted off the interstate near Benton. One lane of traffic was expected to open up about 5 p.m. Sunday, the patrol said.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources was called to the scene to help with cleanup. Several area fire departments also responded.

No one else was injured.

The Highway Patrol investigated the accident, which happened about 7 a.m.

In other incidents Sunday, fire and rescue squads were called to an electrical fire Sunday afternoon at a house on Rolling Hills Drive in Cape Girardeau County.

Crews from the East Cape Girardeau County Fire District responded to the call around 1:30. No one was injured.

In Cape Girardeau, firefighters were called to the 800 block of Good Hope Street for a downed power line. Power was cut in the south section of town because of the downed line. The Cape Girardeau Police Department operated on power from a generator for some time until the electricity was restored.