Truck strikes fuel pumps in Călimănești, triggering 200-metre evacuation and DN 7 shutdown

Collision at Călimănești fuel station

A refrigerated truck collided with fuel dispensers at a petrol station along the DN 7 national road outside the town of Călimănești on Tuesday, 6 October 2026. The incident occurred around 13:45 while the heavy goods vehicle was executing a manoeuvre within the station forecourt. The impact destroyed at least one fuel pump, causing large quantities of fuel to pour out across the asphalt. Images recorded at the site showed the truck wedged against the damaged pump infrastructure alongside a passenger car that sustained damage during the event. Due to the high risk of fire and explosion posed by the flammable spillage, emergency authorities ordered an immediate evacuation of all people within a 200-metre radius of the petrol station.

Mobilization of specialized emergency units

Vâlcea County emergency services dispatched a comprehensive response team to manage the hazards and secure the incident perimeter. Units from the Râmnicu Vâlcea Fire Detachment under the Inspectorate for Emergency Situations arrived with a fire engine equipped with an extrication module, a dedicated extrication truck, and an ambulance from the Vâlcea County Ambulance Service. Responders also deployed a specialized CBRN vehicle designed for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear hazards to counter the chemical threat from the leaked hydrocarbons. Emergency crews implemented fire prevention protocols, isolated electrical sources, and contained the fuel pools spread across the forecourt surface.

A short time ago, police officers were notified regarding a traffic incident on the premises of a fuel station in the town of Călimănești. Police officers and military firefighters from Vâlcea are on the scene conducting specific activities.

Extrication and medical care for the driver

The driver of the refrigerated truck was trapped inside the damaged cab following the collision with the refuelling equipment. Firefighters initiated an extrication operation to cut through the vehicle structure and release the driver from the wreckage. Rescuers successfully pulled the driver from the cabin, noting that the victim remained conscious and cooperative throughout the intervention. The injured driver was transferred to the medical crew from the Vâlcea County Ambulance Service and transported to a hospital for further treatment. Responders confirmed that the fuel leaks were stopped shortly after the driver was freed.

Traffic is stopped on DN 7 Râmnicu Vâlcea - Sibiu, within the locality of Călimănești, Vâlcea County, to carry out the intervention at the accident site. During a manoeuvre inside a fuel station, a truck damaged a pump, resulting in large fuel leaks. The driver is trapped in the cabin.

Closure and investigation on the DN 7 corridor

The crash resulted in a complete shutdown of traffic along the Olt Valley corridor on national road DN 7 connecting Râmnicu Vâlcea and Sibiu. The Romanian Police Infotrafic Centre announced that traffic was halted in both directions around Călimănești to allow emergency teams to secure the site without interference. The closure affected one of Romania's most heavily travelled transit routes, leading to significant delays for freight and passenger transport. Police officers from the Vâlcea County Police Inspectorate began an on-site investigation to clarify the technical and situational factors that caused the truck to strike the fuel installation. The Infotrafic Centre estimated that normal vehicular traffic on DN 7 would resume after 15:30 once clean-up operations and risk evaluations were finalized.