A tractor-trailer hauling thousands of gallons of fuel rolled over in mid-afternoon on the roundabout at the intersection of Route 114 (South Street) and the bypass in Gorham detouring evening commuters.

Environmental personnel were building sand dikes to contain spilled fuel that authorities said had made it to a wetlands area near the Stroudwater River. The incident caused traffic congestion on local roads.

Authorities said the tractor-trailer belongs to J.P. Noonan Transportation Inc., which has a terminal on lower Main Street in Gorham. It was unclear how much fuel had leaked from the trailer. “When I got here, it was pouring out of that thing,” Lt. Chris Sanborn of Gorham Police Department said.

“They pumped up 2,000 gallons at Washburn Drive,” Gorham Police Chief Ronald Shepard said at the scene.

According to police, a driver and a passenger in the tractor-trailer were not transported to a hospital. Shepard said both received “minor bumps and scrapes” and were checked out by rescue personnel.

Scarborough Fire Chief Mike Thurlow said the trailer was loaded with 9,500 gallons including 3,000 gallons of K-1 kerosene and 6,500 gallons of diesel fuel. He said one of the compartments in the trailer contained 3,500 gallons of diesel. Thurlow said it was believed that was the compartment that was damaged.

Workers from Clean Harbors were pumping out the fuel that remained on board the trailer.

Gorham and state police are investigating the accident. Sanborn, citing a witness, said the Noonan truck had been traveling north on Route 114 (South Street). The witness told police a car had pulled out in front of the big rig.

The car was described as a dark-colored sedan, Sanborn said. Police are reconstructing the accident to determine cause and whether speed was involved.

Sanborn praised fast response by Gorham Fire Department and Gorham Public Works that went to the scene with truckloads of sand.

Firefighters sprayed the scene with Class B foam to eliminate danger of the spilled fuel igniting.

Other responding agencies included the Maine Department of Environmental Protection along with several area fire departments and the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office.