Monday, February 2, 2015

RESIDENTS TO RETURN HOME AFTER I-57 HAZMAT SPILL IN CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS




 

RESIDENTS TO RETURN HOME AFTER I-57 HAZMAT SPILL IN CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS

February 2, 2015

CHAMPAIGN — Area public-works crews spent much of Sunday clearing streets and highways of slushy snow while emergency personnel helped evacuate about 60 people after a crash involving hazardous materials left a portion of Interstate 57 closed for much of the day.

While Champaign-Urbana didn't get the accumulation of snow that some had forecast, the precipitation the area received did have quite an effect.

Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel said Champaign received about 2 inches of snow through Sunday morning and 21/2 inches overall.

"We had 0.46 inches in the rain gauges, but some of that was snow," Angel said. "It wasn't quite as much as was expected. We didn't have a lot of snow accumulation, but that's OK if you don't like snow."
Angel said the 34-degree temperatures caused some snow to melt as other snow fell.

"The stuff we ended up with is pretty slushy," he said.
Meanwhile, Champaign Fire Marshall John Koller said about 60 people were evacuated as a precaution to First Christian Church on Windsor Road in the wake of a rollover crash Sunday morning on Interstate 57. Emergency personnel went door-to-door to assist with the evacuation.

Affected areas included the 3300 to 3400 blocks of Katie Lynn Drive, Edward Hoffman Drive and Florence Drive and the 800 to 900 blocks of Erin Drive.
According to Illinois State Trooper Tracy Lillard, the accident took place in the northbound lanes of I-57 just north of the I-72 interchange at 7:02 a.m. Sunday.

Derrick Williams, 33, who listed an address in Baton Rouge, La., was driving a truck pulling a tanker trailer north and was changing from the right to left lane when he lost control of the vehicle.

The tanker came loose from the truck and turned on its side.
Lillard said the tanker then slid to the center median while the truck spun into the right ditch, coming to rest upright.

Police said the tanker was loaded with Dimethylaminopropylamine, a substance typically used to make shampoo.

No injuries were reported, but Williams was ticketed for driving too fast for conditions and for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

Northbound traffic was directed off I-57 at the University Avenue exit, but cars and trucks were backed up for 2 miles south of that location as late as 2 p.m. Sunday.

Southbound traffic was directed off I-57 at the Olympian Drive exit.
Both closures were expected to continue through most of the day.
Meanwhile, work crews spent the day cleaning the spill.

Kris Koester, administrative services supervisor for Champaign public works, said some crews were diverted from snow removal to assist at the scene.
"We took some dirt out there to fill up inlets to prevent contamination from leaks, and we put up signals to guide people around the detour," Koester said late Sunday afternoon.
Koester said 26 public-works employees were on the job Sunday afternoon clearing snow from Champaign streets. Another 23 workers were set to take their place at 11:30 p.m. Sunday.

"We plan on getting the primary routes cleared and then work on the streets overnight," he said. "When people get up in the morning, things are going to look pretty good."

Urbana Public Works Operations Manager John Collins said that 13 people began plowing work at noon Sunday, with a second crew of 14 set to take their places at midnight.

"We had the primary routes and business district cleaned up by 4:30 p.m. Sunday," he said. "We intend to spend the night hours working on the residential routes. We are keeping the snow loose, and it is flying off the roads pretty good."

Tracy Wingler of the Champaign County Highway Department said eight workers began salting county roads at 3 a.m. Sunday and switched to plowing later in the day.

"On Sunday afternoon, we treated the intersections and curbs," he said. "The snow that we have in place on Sunday afternoon is not going to move, but if we get new snow and the winds pick up, that could be a problem."

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CHEMICAL SPILL OF DIMETHYLAMINDPROPLYMINE ON I-57 IN CHAMPAIGN ILLINOIS.  60 PEOPLE EVACUATED.  TANKER TRUCK DRIVER WAS TICKETED FOR GOING TOO FAST FOR ROAD CONDITIONS, RESULTING IN ITS OVERTURNING.

February 1, 2015
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS:

The Champaign Fire Department reports that around 60 people with homes on Summer Sage Court are being moved to First Christian Church on Curtis Road due to the spill.
 
State police say a portion of Interstate 57 west of Champaign will be closed for most of Sunday as crews clean up an accident that led to a hazardous spill.
Crews are re-routing northbound traffic at Interstate 72 and southbound traffic at Olympian Drive. Bradley Avenue is also closed at I-57. This is all due to a tanker that went off the road Sunday morning, spilling a product that's used in cosmetic items.  The chemical is volatile, it has the odor of ammonia (it is an amine) and is vaporizing and it is also flammable.  It has a high pH (12) and helps balancing the pH of the shampoos. 
The chemical’s name is :  dimethylamindproplymine.  Dimethylaminopropylamine (aka "DMAPA") is a diamine used in the preparation of some surfactants, such as cocamidopropyl betaine which is an ingredient in many personal care products including soaps, shampoos, and cosmetics.  In its undiluted form it is high irritating to the eyes, skin and mucous membranes of exposed individuals.
Champaign Fire Department Deputy Chief John Barker said several departments are cleaning up the spill.
Forecasting shows the winds will be picking up. Champaign Fire has ordered a partial evacuation of Summer Sage Ct. Fire will go door-door
— Champaign Fire Dept. (@ChampaignFire) February 1, 2015
Partial evacuation involves 30 units and approximately 60 people. First Christian Church on Curtis Rd is accepting evacuees.
— Champaign Fire Dept. (@ChampaignFire) February 1, 2015


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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A stretch of Interstate 57 in central Illinois near Champaign is closed after a tanker truck carrying a chemical used in making shampoo overturned.
Illinois State Police say the accident happened about 7 a.m. on Sunday just west of Champaign.
No injuries were reported.
Police say the truck was northbound and changing lanes when the driver lost control. That’s when investigators say the tanker detached from the tractor and overturned onto its side in the center median.
Police say traffic in both directions of the freeway would be detoured until the wreckage is removed and the chemical is unloaded from the tanker.
Police say the 33-year-old driver from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was ticketed for driving too fast for conditions and failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident.