JUNE 22, 2015
HOUSTON, TEXAS
The westbound lanes of Highway 225 at Allen Genoa have
reopened after a fiery wreck that ruptured a chemical line.
The eastbound lanes remain closed, and may stay that way
until at least 8 p.m. Monday, specifically affected is the stretch of 225
between Scarborough and 610.
"We’re dealing with a three to nine mile pipeline. They
did cap it off but we're waiting for it to release all the product,"
Houston Fire Department Asst. Chief Blake White said.
The accident happened at 1:12 p.m., according to Houston
Transtar.
According to Houston police, an 18-wheeler ran off the freeway
and struck a pipeline on the Lyondell property.
The driver of the rig was killed.
The line contains propylene, according to the Houston Fire
Department,
The Chief described the propylene as highly flammable
substance used to make propane.
By 6 p.m. Monday, Hazmat and fire crews had dumped tens of thousands
of gallons of water on the broken line to keep things cool and to disperse the
chemical.
"If we were in a different area with different wind,
you might have evacuations but we are OK for now," White said.
It was unclear Monday night what caused the accident, but
this is Texas and people drive really crazy.
Texas leads the nation in traffic deaths, total deaths and total deaths
involving trucks. It also has the
highest traffic death rate at about 1.5 people killed per 10,000 citizens. In other words, if you are in Texas, beware,
you may not make it back home.