UPDATE: Saratoga Springs man, 39, faces charges after fuel oil spill

PHOTOGRAPHER: Lee Coleman

A 39-year-old city man was arrested today on a number of charges after police say home heating fuel spilled onto Route 9 from barrels in his truck when he turned from Route 9 onto Crescent Street.

City police had to temporarily close the northbound lanes of Route 9 after the 9:30 a.m. spill. The road remained closed for more than two hours while the spill was cleaned up by the Saratoga Springs Fire Department and the city Public Works Department. Between 10 and 15 gallons of fuel oil spilled onto the roadway, police said.

James F. Nokes of Doten Avenue was arrested at the scene on charges of aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle for driving with a suspended license, having an unsecured load and uninspected trailer. Nokes was also found to have a warrant for failing to appear in Saratoga Springs City Court for a previous charge of driving with a suspended license, police said.

As the truck made the turn the trailer tipped over and three 55-gallon drums fell onto the road. One of the drums leaked home heating fuel onto the roadway, causing the closure of Route 9 and Crescent Street, police said.

Nokes was arraigned before Saratoga Springs City Court Judge Wait and released to reappear in City Court on Thursday.