A driver of a fuel tanker, who was allegedly speeding, collided with a pickup truck on Highway 101 in South San Jose early Christmas morning. Southbound lanes were closed until early Friday morning as authorities in hazmat suits worked to clean up tons of spilled fuel.

As the Chronicle reports, a gasoline tanker carrying two four-thousand-gallon tanks traveling at an allegedly unsafe speed collided with a pickup truck around 5:30 am Thursday near Hellyer Avenue on southbound US Highway 101, causing the tanker to overturn, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Per Bay City News, the driver of the pickup truck, who had slowed down to avoid flooding on the freeway, was uninjured, but the big rig driver was taken to the hospital for assessment.

As crews worked to clean the spill and get the tanker upright, southbound traffic was rerouted to the Yerba Buena Road off-ramp, per NBC Bay Area. Due to the heavy rain and flooding, large amounts of water, along with the spilled fuel, had to be pumped from the contaminated roadway, per KGO.

Per the Chronicle, officials initially estimated the freeway would reopen around 5 pm Thursday, but the estimated reopening was extended to 8 pm, per Bay City News. It was then further extended until midnight, and the roadway reopened at some point Friday morning, per NBC Bay Area.

Authorities told KGO that numerous collisions have been reported, and drivers should use caution on the roadways.

Image: Google Street View

This post has been updated with the time the roadway reopened. Additionally, the amount of tons spilled is unclear and has been updated as such — news outlets reported that it was "600" tons, which is factually incorrect.

Previously: Jackknifed Big Rig, Spilled Fuel Closes Three Lanes of Southbound 101 Near SFO

And finally, in crisis communications news: After Monday's fire at the Chrevron refinery in Richmond, Calif. sent a plume of black, toxic smoke into the air blanketing much of Richmond, North Richmond, and San Pablo, the company said they not only plan on conducting full clean-up and investigation, but also "to compensate our neighbors for medical and property expenses incurred as a result of the incident."

In a letter sent out to community members by Chevron spokeswoman Melissa Ritchie:

Dear Members of the Community: We apologize for the fire and smoke caused by yesterday’s incident. Nothing is more important than safe operations and yesterday we did not meet that expectation. The fire is now under control. We are currently working on clean-up and investigation. We will continue to work with government agencies to determine the cause of the incident and see to it that it never happens again. We will work hard to repair the refinery so that we can provide consumers with the fuel products they need. We recognize the importance of sharing information as it becomes available and plan to do so at tonight’s town hall at 6 p.m. at the Richmond Memorial Auditorium and in ongoing community updates. A claims process has been set up through Crawford and Company and we intend to compensate our neighbors for medical and property expenses incurred as a result of the incident. We will also see to it that communities will be reimbursed for the costs they face for emergency personnel who responded to last night’s incident. If you wish to file a claim please call 866-260-7881. We will respond to these claims as promptly as possible.

At the same time, we are continuing to work with community leaders and City officials to make things right. We value their input and, as a long-standing member of the Richmond community for more than a hundred years, we are committed to the success of this City.

We thank the firefighters and first-responders - including those from other companies and cities. Their courage and professionalism made the best of a difficult situation.

If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call 510-242-2000.

Previously: Toxic Chevron Refinery Fire in Richmond Prompts Shelter-in-Place

According to the Chronicle, "A barge got mired today in the shallow waters near the St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco and is leaking some fuel into the bay." The sand transportation barge, measuring around 230-feet, "was being pushed by a tugboat when it ran aground at about 7:30 a.m."

Also, it "may be carrying" somewhere around 3,000 gallons of diesel fuel. Yikes.

[Chron]

Dear SF Cabs:

We hate you. But, like, we hate-hate you. We hate you to death. For reals. Why? Because in addition to never having change for a $20, charging too much for a ride from Van Ness and Market to Third and Market, childishly going on strike whenever the city dares to bring in more, much-needed cabs, and for this, you now want to "charge a $1 per passenger fee to offset rising fuel costs." We already have the nation's "second-highest 'flag drop' rate" ($3.10) as it is. So, why would you do this to us, you greedy, selfish, impromptu sociopolitical conversing, chatty bastards?

And, like, do you even want to be in this relationship?

Please drop dead.

Love,
the San Francisco Bay Area

Four commercial fishermen were rescued today after their 35-foot commercial fishing boat, christened "Reward," capsized 50 yards off of Pier 45 today. Fortunately, as a response boat from the Coast Guard Station was performing "training evolutions" in the Bay, they noticed the boat sinking, went into action, and rescued the four fishermen. No injuries were sustains.

However, the boat, carrying a possible 300 gallons of diesel fuel, is currently submerged under the Bay. Check it:

The vessel is currently submerged beneath the water, and carries a maximum of 300 gallons of diesel fuel onboard. The Coast Guard will continue to assess the surrounding water for pollution, and take any steps necessary for cleanup. Coast Guard personnel, and divers from the San Francisco Police Department, were able to move the vessel to the edge of the channel to allow continued use of the waterway.

As of now, the reason for the vessel's sinking is unknown. A 100-yard safety zone has been established around the submerged boat. Just how long it will take for the boat to be removed is also unknown. Stay tuned, folks.