JOHNSTON COUNTY, N.C. — Emergency crews finished the cleanup Wednesday afternoon of an overturned gas tanker in Johnston County.

The wreck happened along Highway 96 North near Covered Bridge and Strickland Hinton roads around 9 a.m. Officials said it appeared that the tanker and van collided head-on at a curve along the highway.

"It was a terrible accident. The way that tractor-trailer hit that car, it's amazing anyone could walk or be alive, much less walk," resident Max Hocutt, who lives nearby.

A firefighter at the scene said that the truck driver ran to a nearby field, concerned that the tanker could explode.

Extra crews were called to the scene to help remove the 8,300 gallons of gasoline from the tanker, which had been filled at the oil terminal in Selma earlier in the morning. Officials said only 25 to 30 gallons leaked out.

"Gasoline is very flammable, highly flammable, so we have to take as much precaution as we possibly can to make sure that we don't have any more trouble than we've already got," Pat Lacarter of the Johnston County Emergency Management said.

The drivers of both vehicles were taken to area hospitals for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

Emergency crews said there is no danger to the water supply.

Johnston County officials said an evacuation of the area was not necessary.