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Ector County Sues West Texas Petroleum Co.
Ector County Sues West Texas Petroleum Company 9/18/12
CBS 7 Reporter
smurray@cbs7.com
September 18, 2012
Odessa, TX - Ector County is taking legal action against a West Texas petroleum company, claiming the company's truck spilled oil on the road and led to several wrecks.
The company is Quell Petroleum services out of Monahans. According to the lawsuit, the truck was actually a converted garbage truck transporting used oil filters.
The first time the truck spilled oil was on April 13th. The driver was leaving the Avis Lube at 5309 Wadley in Midland, went westbound then turned left under Loop 250 over pass, headed for I-20; spilling oil the entire way the documents claim.
Meanwhile, a motorcycle traveling southbound on the loop 250 service road lost control on the slick highway and skidded onto its side. According to the accident report, there was little damage and only minor injuries to the driver.
But the lawsuit says this is not the only accident that happened as a result of the spilled oil. It claims the leaking truck caused another rollover.
Several officers, according to the legal document, issued the driver, Robert Alexander, multiple warnings and citations.
Still, several weeks later the same vehicle and driver arrived to Avis Lube when an employee noticed the truck was leaking oil again.
Monahans Mayor David Cutbirth is a partial owner of Quell Petroleum and he says since the accidents occurred the truck has been fixed.
“I’m a little bit surprised that Ector County is filing the suit,” he says. “Action has been taken regarding the truck that spilled the oil. I got no advanced warning.”
Mayor Cutbirth says he has yet to see the lawsuit from the county.
We also spoke with Ector County Environmental Enforcement Officer Ted Yelley who says this lawsuit is not about money; it's about public safety at this point. They want that truck repaired or off the road