ACRYLIC ACID LEAKED WHEN AN 18 WHEELER FLIPPED TO ITS SIDE NEAR LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA
February 5,
2015
Lafayette,
LA:
Hwy 95 in
Duson near Miss Mamie’s Casino was closed due to a flipped 18 wheeler leaking
acrylic acid Thursday
The
18-wheeler tipped over into a ditch, causing acrylic acid to leak onto the
road. Rescue crews from Lafayette, Scott, Duson and State Police all
responded to the emergency call.
“Duson PD
received a call of an 18 wheeler that’s leaking acrylic acid. We know that it
is flammable, corrosive and it’s toxic.” said State Police M/T Brooks David
Officials
called in a second 18-wheeler to transfer the acid into. The process began
around 5:30 and police say it could take over six hours. The road way is not
expected to be cleared until midnight this evening.
“When our
ESU units along with Duson PD thinks that its safe to do so, we’ll open up the
roadways. Until then it will be shut down, our main priority is to make sure
the public is safe.” said M/T David.
Angie Gray
works at the gas station where the truck driver had left just moments before
the accident.
“I guess he
went in too sharp and the trailer went into the ditch first and it was gone
first. I guess he got scared or nervous because he hit the gas a little bit too
much because he flipped the whole truck .” said Gray.
Acrylic
acid is a colorless liquid with a strong odor and is very flammable. Acrylic acid is severely irritating and
corrosive to the skin and the respiratory tract. Eye contact can result in
severe and irreversible injury. Low exposure will cause minimal or no health
effects, while high exposure could result in pulmonary edema. Acrylic acid is produced from propene which is
a byproduct of ethylene and gasoline production.
Rescue crews closed down part
of LA 95, South of I-10 down to US-90, in an attempt to keep the incident
isolated.
“There not
letting anybody in, and nobody out so we haven’t had anybody. No trucks
coming in , no business, nothing, so its going to be pretty bad.” said Gray.
