Truck driver sentenced after officials say he dumped 4,000 gallons of gas ‘to speed up his route’

A former truck driver was sentenced to prison for a large-scale fuel discharge that occurred in Pennsylvania in 2021.

New Jersey resident George Smith, 41, was sentenced to between 11.5 months and 23 months in prison, WPVI reports.

Smith pleaded guilty to felony prohibition against other pollution and felony causing a catastrophe in August 2024.

The fuel discharge incident took place on June 11, 2021 at the Gas N Go located in Brookhaven, Pennsylvania.

Over 4,000 gallons of gas were released down an embankment near an elementary school, resulting in the death of many animals and causing a long-term closure for the school. More than 100 large truckloads of contaminated soil were excavated and removed from the site. 

“We have determined that the defendant’s deliberate actions caused this fuel discharge. Motivated by a desire to speed up his route, the defendant poured in excess of 4,000 gallons of gasoline over an embankment bordering an elementary school – causing damage to a nearby stream, wildlife and vegetation and resulting in the closure of the school. As a fuel delivery driver, the defendant was entrusted with a hazardous product – gasoline – and he owed a duty of care to all of us. He chose self-interest over the safety of the Brookhaven community and the safety of the children at Coebourn Elementary School,” said Delaware County District Attorney Stollsteimer when charges were announced in 2021.

From the Delaware County County District Attorney’s Office:

“Detectives Steve Cortese and Christopher Sponaugle of the Criminal Investigation Division interviewed the general manager of Lee Transport Systems, LLC (“Lee”), the defendant’s employer, and obtained records showing the defendant’s delivery route as well as bills of lading confirming the amount of gasoline defendant acquired at the fuel depot prior to the delivery at Gas N Go. Those records show that defendant filled his truck with 8,500 gallons of gasoline for delivery on the day of the incident. Additionally, those records indicate that the defendant was scheduled to make delivery to the Brookhaven location on his fourth stop of the night; however, the defendant deviated from his planned route and made the Brookhaven delivery his first stop.

Due to an earlier delivery at the Gas N Go on the day of the incident, it was clear from records that the quantity of gasoline carried by the defendant would not fit in the underground tanks at the Brookhaven station. Notably, investigators learned that safety features on defendant’s fuel truck make it impossible for drivers to refill their truck if gas remains in the truck fuel compartments. Therefore, the defendant would have had to make a partial delivery at his next stop before returning to the fuel depot, which would have lengthened his route.“