Local

Raccoon in road blamed for massive Florida diesel spill

CAPE CORAL, Fla. — A truck driver told police that an accident and a massive diesel spill were caused by a raccoon wandering into the road.

The official police report on a Nov. 27 diesel spill revealed the role of the striped animal in the incident.

The truck hauling 8,000 gallons of fuel jack knifed and rolled on the road. The truck spilled an estimated 750 gallons which later caught fire and prompted police to evacuate a nearby neighborhood.

Driver Rida M. Bendarif, 40, of Valrico, told police he swerved to avoid a raccoon.

Cape Coral police cited Bendarif for careless driving. He was treated at Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers.