A New Jersey truck driver has been sentenced to nearly two years in federal prison after illegally dumping thousands of gallons of gasoline in Pennsylvania, a reckless act that caused widespread environmental damage, killed wildlife, and forced the closure of a local elementary school.
The case underscores how fuel transportation violations can carry serious criminal consequences and leave long-lasting environmental scars.
Illegal Fuel Dump Contaminated Land and Water
The incident occurred in Brookhaven, Pennsylvania, in 2021, when George Smith, 41, was transporting 8,500 gallons of gasoline in a tanker truck. According to Delaware County officials, Smith was scheduled to make multiple deliveries that day, with a Brookhaven gas station intended to be his fourth stop.
Instead, Smith arrived at the Brookhaven station first, despite the underground tanks being unable to accept the full load. Modern fuel trucks include safety systems that prevent drivers from continuing deliveries when excess fuel remains in compartments…