Mysterious spill being tested

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - The Indiana Department of Environmental Management is in the midst of getting barrels of a mysterious substance that was spilled on Washington Boulevard Sunday tested in an effort to find out what it could be.

According to the Fort Wayne Fire Department, crews were called to Washington Boulevard near South Coliseum Boulevard where the substance covered about a 300x25 foot-wide area of the eastbound roadway.

A Hazmat crew was called to the scene to clean up the spill.

"They do the cleaning," Toni Mayo, a spokesperson for the Indiana Department of Transportation, said.  "That's a very special technology.  They know how to come in and assess the problem and they act on it."

A chemical was put down to help absorb the substance that was on the road. That was then scooped up and put into barrels for testing.

INDOT was called in to assist with traffic control during the cleanup and shut down the eastbound lanes between Maumee Avenue and the IN 930 ramp from about 10 p.m. until 1:30 a.m.  Motorists were advised to avoid the area.

At this time, FWFD said IDEM will determine who will test the substance to find more answers, but did not have any information on how long the testing will take.

"The fact that whoever it was left the scene of the spill," Mayo said.  "Right now we don't have any answers.  That is why the test is going to be very important."

Mayo added that once it is known what the substance is, it will then be disposed of properly

Fire department officials described the substance as a liquid substance and one NewsChannel 15 viewer said the road felt slippery under his tires.

If anyone has any information about any unusual activity going on in that area, please call INDOT customer service at 866-227-3555.