Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Overturned 18-wheeler creates hazmat situation, shuts down Highway 78 in MS




JULY 1, 2015
 
Overturned 18-wheeler
The crash happened around 5 a.m. on westbound Highway 78.
(Source: WMC Action News 5)

OLIVE BRANCH, MS (WMC)  
An 18-wheeler carrying corrosive and flammable materials overturned on Highway 78 near Red Banks Road.

DeSoto County Sheriff's Office shut down westbound and eastbound directions on Highway 78 southeast of Olive Branch around 5 a.m. Wednesday.

Deputies reopened eastbound traffic a little later, but kept westbound lanes closed for more than seven hours while crews cleaned the area.

The 18-wheeler was carrying thousands of pounds of acid-filled batteries, as well as sodium hydroxide and hydrosulfide. All of those materials needed to be carried out of the truck by hand.

Deputies said that will take a long time.

Traffic was diverted to Highway 178 to Red Banks while crews work to clean up the crash. Traffic was backed up at least 10 miles into Marshall County.

Deputies added that the truck driver was taken to Methodist hospital in Olive Branch in good condition.

The cause of the crash has not been determined.