Pa. Turnpike Tar Claims: Customers Should Call Shipper's Insurer Directly

HARRISBURG, PA (11/23/2011)(readMedia)-- Motorists whose vehicles sustained damage from a driveway-sealant spill on the Pa. Turnpike last night (Nov. 22) in Southwestern Pennsylvania should contact the insurer of the company whose truck spilled the product, MTS Transport LLC of Stevensville MD. That insurer, Travelers Insurance Co., can be reached at 1-800-238-6225. Customers should follow the voice prompts and select "Business Claims" as directed on the phone line.

The roadway has been cleared of tar and is operating normally in the area this morning, though travelers may encounter rough or uneven roadway surfaces and possible delays due to heavy holiday traffic volumes starting this afternoon.

The spill occurred Nov. 22 around 7 p.m. on a 38-mile stretch of the toll road between New Castle (Exit No. 10) and Allegheny Valley (Exit No. 48). Turnpike maintenance crews used snow plows along with sand, salt and cinders, to clean the substance from the lanes; the cleanup operation was completed by 11 p.m. yesterday.

The turnpike estimates that hundreds of vehicles were likely damaged during the incident, which was limited to eastbound lanes.

A number of vehicles that had become disabled due to the spill were towed to a staging area off the roadway. Owners of these vehicles should contact the Turnpike's Traffic Operations Center at 1-800-932-0586 to make arrangements to have their vehicle towed from the staging area.

Any additional questions can be directed to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission's customer assistance center, 1-800-331-3414. Due to unusually high call volumes, some callers may experience delays.