5 dead in Illinois tanker truck gas leak

[+susieice]

Illinois truck crash kills 5, seriously injures 5 and forces evacuation due to ammonia leak (msn.com) 

More info in link.

Five people were killed and five were seriously injured after a truck overturned in central Illinois, causing a toxic substance to leak from its cargo and forcing the evacuation of hundreds of area residents, authorities said Saturday.

A semitruck carrying caustic anhydrous ammonia toppled about 9:25 p.m. Friday night in Teutopolis, spilling more than half of its 7,500-gallon (28,390- liter) load, according to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

Effingham County Coroner Kim Rhodes said the five dead included three from the same family — one adult and two children under 12. The other two were adult motorists from out of state, Rhodes said. Additionally, five people were airlifted to area hospitals, their conditions unknown.

Names of the victims were not released, nor would authorities discuss causes of death.

Emergency crews worked overnight trying to control the plume from the leak and struggled to get near the crash.

Private and federal environmental contractors, summoned to recommend a cleanup procedure, were en route to Teutopolis, a town of 1,600 about 110 miles (177 kilometers) northeast of St. Louis.

Edited September 30 by susieice

[+susieice]

An earlier accident on Interstate 70 caused traffic to be rerouted onto Highway 40. 

Anhydrous ammonia leak: Five dead after crash in Illinois | CNN

The truck was carrying about 7,500 gallons of the toxic substance at the time of the wreck in Effingham County, according to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. The agency said early estimates say more than half of that – about 4,000 gallons – were released.

The leak has been “partially patched” and approximately 500 people have been evacuated from the area, according to the state EPA. In addition to the deaths, there have also been multiple injuries.

Parts of Teutopolis, a village in south-central Illinois, were evacuated “due to the plume from the ammonia leak” after the crash Friday night on US Highway 40, about a half mile east of Teutopolis, Illinois State Police said.

Emergency crews were still on scene and working to contain the leak Saturday afternoon, according to the state’s EPA.

Just before 5 p.m. a separate crash had taken place on Interstate 70 just east of Effingham, which caused traffic to be rerouted to US Highway 40.

At about 9:25 p.m. local time, authorities were notified about a crash on the highway “involving multiple vehicles, including a semi-truck that is leaking anhydrous ammonia,” police said.

Edited September 30 by susieice

[Grim Reaper 6]

9 minutes ago, susieice said:

An earlier accident on Interstate 70 caused traffic to be rerouted onto Highway 40. 

Anhydrous ammonia leak: Five dead after crash in Illinois | CNN

The truck was carrying about 7,500 gallons of the toxic substance at the time of the wreck in Effingham County, according to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. The agency said early estimates say more than half of that – about 4,000 gallons – were released.

The leak has been “partially patched” and approximately 500 people have been evacuated from the area, according to the state EPA. In addition to the deaths, there have also been multiple injuries.

Parts of Teutopolis, a village in south-central Illinois, were evacuated “due to the plume from the ammonia leak” after the crash Friday night on US Highway 40, about a half mile east of Teutopolis, Illinois State Police said.

Emergency crews were still on scene and working to contain the leak Saturday afternoon, according to the state’s EPA.

Just before 5 p.m. a separate crash had taken place on Interstate 70 just east of Effingham, which caused traffic to be rerouted to US Highway 40.

A

Wow, that's terrible Susie, Ammonia can cause a very serious vapor hazard for miles around that spill depending upon time of day, wind speed, and wind direction. I bet the hospitals are full of people with respiratory issues. I am surprised there were not more deaths due to the leak, it must have been the hand of providence. 

Peace Susie, hope you doing well!!!!

Edited September 30 by Grim Reaper 6

[Buzz_Light_Year]

Anhydrous is really nasty stuff. I got gassed when my brother thought it would be cute to trip the applicator while I was standing behind it. Reflex of my eyes is probably the only reason I didn't end up blind.

When I was in the Marines we had to undergo tear gas training and Anhydrous is far worse than tear gas.

[+susieice]

The articles mention the wind shifting several times. It seems there was an accident. It hasn't been released if the people who died were killed in the accident or as a result of the gas. I haven't seen anything about the condition of the truck driver. It sounds like the truck was detoured off the main interstate and onto a highway that goes through the town.

Downstate Illinois truck accident leads to evacuation after causing ammonia leak, multiple fatalities – NBC Chicago

The accident, which involved “multiple” vehicles including the tanker, happened about a half-mile east of Teutopolis on U.S. Highway 40 on Friday at about 9:25 p.m., Illinois State Police said in an emailed statement.

McMahon said the tanker began leaking after rolling over in a ditch. He said authorities are still preventing cars from driving in that area. Residents within a one-mile radius of the spill — largely on the east end of Teutopolis — were evacuated. The town of 1,600 people is about 110 miles (177 kilometers) northeast of St. Louis.

Kuhns said he did not have information on whether the deaths were the result of the crash itself or the chemical leak. But he said that “the accident scene was large.”

Complicating matters was that an accident on Interstate 70 earlier Friday forced a detour of traffic east along U.S. Highway 40, which bisects Teutopolis.

[+susieice]

Residents were allowed to return to their homes today. An investigation continues.

Investigation continues into deadly central Illinois truck crash that caused toxic chemical leak (msn.com)

The tanker truck, which was carrying caustic anhydrous ammonia, was drained and moved to a “secure location” for a National Transportation Safety Board investigation, authorities said late Saturday as residents were allowed to return to their homes in the Teutopolis area.

 

NTSB authorities planned a news conference Sunday.

“Testing has indicated that the danger from the anhydrous ammonia has dissipated," Teutopolis Assistant Fire Chief Joe Holomy said late Saturday.

Traffic, including the tanker, was pushed onto U.S. 40, which bisects Teutopolis, earlier Friday because of another truck crash on Interstate 70.

Phillip Hartke, 75, who lives in Teutopolis but farms with his son outside of town, said U.S. 40 was jammed after the I-70 closure. Hartke finished harvesting corn about 9:30 p.m. Driving home, as he neared the center of town, he could smell anhydrous ammonia. When he reached U.S. 40, emergency vehicles swarmed the area.

[Grim Reaper 6]

4 hours ago, susieice said:

Residents were allowed to return to their homes today. An investigation continues.

Investigation continues into deadly central Illinois truck crash that caused toxic chemical leak (msn.com)

The tanker truck, which was carrying caustic anhydrous ammonia, was drained and moved to a “secure location” for a National Transportation Safety Board investigation, authorities said late Saturday as residents were allowed to return to their homes in the Teutopolis area.

 

NTSB authorities planned a news conference Sunday.

“Testing has indicated that the danger from the anhydrous ammonia has dissipated," Teutopolis Assistant Fire Chief Joe Holomy said late Saturday.

Traffic, including the tanker, was pushed onto U.S. 40, which bisects Teutopolis, earlier Friday because of another truck crash on Interstate 70.

Phillip Hartke, 75, who lives in Teutopolis but farms with his son outside of town, said U.S. 40 was jammed after the I-70 closure. Hartke finished harvesting corn about 9:30 p.m. Driving home, as he neared the center of town, he could smell anhydrous ammonia. When he reached U.S. 40, emergency vehicles swarmed the area.

5 in Illinois highway crash died from exposure to toxic payload, coroner says: 5 in Illinois highway crash died from exposure to toxic payload, coroner says (msn.com)

"Preliminary investigation indicates five individuals died from exposure to anhydrous ammonia at the crash site," Effingham County Coroner Kim Rhodes said in a statement.

Edited October 2 by Grim Reaper 6

[+susieice]

13 hours ago, Grim Reaper 6 said:

5 in Illinois highway crash died from exposure to toxic payload, coroner says: 5 in Illinois highway crash died from exposure to toxic payload, coroner says (msn.com)

"Preliminary investigation indicates five individuals died from exposure to anhydrous ammonia at the crash site," Effingham County Coroner Kim Rhodes said in a statement.

So it was the ammonia. The fumes must have been horrendous. It would have overcome the children quickly.   I hope the people taken to the hospital will be alright. Still no word about the truck driver. Only the company who owned the truck.

[Grim Reaper 6]

7 hours ago, susieice said:

So it was the ammonia. The fumes must have been horrendous. It would have overcome the children quickly.   I hope the people taken to the hospital will be alright. Still no word about the truck driver. Only the company who owned the truck.

Ammonia when breathed in stops the lungs from taking in Oxygen and causes a fluid build up, so the effects are equal to suffocation and dryland drowning it is a horrible death. I saw similar fatalities in Syria when the government attacked villages with barrel bombs filled with chlorine gas and it was horrible!!

[Cho Jinn]

Bad way to go.