About 400 litres of furnace oil spilled in Summerside on Friday night after a car struck a home's outdoor tank.

The incident occurred just before midnight on Harvard Street, police Chief Dave Poirier said. The driver fled the scene, he said.

Police know who the driver is, but have not yet released his name.

The oil tank had just been filled for the winter.

"The oil seeped from the oil tank onto the street and then seeped [about 200 feet down the street]... into some of the storm drains," Poirier said.

It could also be seen running in a nearby stream.

City crews put down sand and peat moss to soak up the oil.

Officials from the provincial Environment Department arrived about 1 a.m. Saturday to assess the damage.

Contaminated soil was hauled away and absorbent booms were placed in the contaminated stream. The damaged oil tank was also carted away.

A strong smell of oil continued to hang in the air late Saturday morning, Poirier said.

"We're assured that … it shouldn't affect any city drinking water," he said.

Coast guard officials have been notified of the spill as a precaution, he added.

The cleanup continues.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police.