Road reopens after tanker spill

Authorities have reopened a stretch of Kern County highway that closed Tuesday morning after a minivan collided with an oil tanker, sending crude oil spilling onto the roadway.

California Highway Patrol officials said more than 1,800 gallons of crude oil leaked onto Highway 46 before dawn -- significantly less than their original estimate of 3,800 gallons.

A detour was set up between Highway 33 and Highway 41 for about nine hours while hazardous materials crews cleaned up the slick.

The tanker with double trailers apparently was making a U-turn when the van crashed into its rear, authorities said. The injury to the minivan driver was minor, and the truck driver was not injured.