TEUTOPOLIS (Illinois, US), Oct 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A semitruck carrying 7,500 gallons of anhydrous ammonia overturned in Illinois in a multi-vehicle crash that caused five fatalities and sent another five people to local hospitals, officials said.
The accident, which involved “multiple” vehicles, happened about a half-mile east of Teutopolis, Illinois, on U.S. Highway 40 on Friday at about 9:25 p.m. local time, authorities said.
The impact of the accident caused the truck to begin leaking, prompting the evacuation of 500 people, according to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
According to early estimates, about 4,000 gallons have been released, and the leak has been “partially patched,” the agency said.
Effingham County Coroner Kim Rhodes said five people died and five were flown to hospitals with unknown conditions.
Effingham County Sheriff Paul Kuhns said that there was a “large plume” from the ammonia leak. Because the leak caused “terribly dangerous air conditions in the northeast area of Teutopolis,” an evacuation was ordered within an approximate one-mile radius of the crash.
Police said in a statement earlier that there “are multiple fatalities” related to the crash. During the news conference, officials declined to comment on what caused the deaths.
The National Transportation Safety Board said in a statement that it will investigate the crash in coordination with the Illinois State Police and the Effingham County Sheriff’s Department.
Inhalation of anhydrous ammonia, which is toxic, can be fatal at high concentrations. The ammonia can also burn the skin and eyes, and cause severe respiratory injuries.
Teutopolis is a town of just over 1,600 people about 92 miles southeast of Springfield, Illinois, the state’s capital. — NNN-AGENCIES
