A truck from Jiangsu Province got stuck while trying to drive onto a ferry along the Huangpu River on Saturday, and leaked acetone into the waterway.

Authorities are probing the cause of the leak, but a preliminary investigation showed a poor cooperation between the truck driver and the ferry operators was to blame.

The accident happened at Pudong's Dongtang Road ferry station on the Dongnen Line, which takes vehicles to Puxi's Nenjiang Road ferry station in Yangpu District.

A witness said the truck became stuck about 10am when it was driving onto the ferry. The boat suddenly shifted, with the back end rising into the air.

The inclination left part of the tanker suspended in the air and the truck unable to move forward or in reverse.

Truck driver Chen Yaozong said at that time the driver's cab was on the ferry, but most of the tank was still on the dock.

He said he yelled at workers on the ferry telling them to keep the boat level.

About 30 minutes after the truck became stuck, the cover for a valve on the tanker became loose from waves shaking the truck.

Liquid acetone began to leak, mostly flowing into the Huangpu River. Workers on the spot called the police.

To prevent injuries, authorities evacuated everyone from the ferry. Firefighters immediately closed the valve and showered the truck with water to dilute the flammable acetone.

The situation was cleared up by noon, and the truck was towed away so the ferry could resume operations.

Authorities said the diluted acetone was fairly weak and will not endanger people living along the embankment.

Police said the tanker was carrying 15 tons of acetone at the time of the leak, well about its 10 ton capacity.