Thursday, August 11, 2016

Faulty valve causes a semi tanker truck carrying 37,000 pounds of sodium hydroxide to explode in Shelby County, Ohio





Chemical leak to close I-75 ramp in Shelby Co. for 24 hours



SHELBY COUNTY —

UPDATE @ 11:46 a.m.

Emergency crews have cleared the scene where a chemical spill occurred. But the entrance ramp to Interstate 75 south in Anna will remain closed for 24-36 hours for clean up supervised by the EPA.

The chemicals did not get into the waterway and there was no contamination.

The truck driver has gotten praise for finding a leak in the tank and preventing an explosion in moving traffic, officials said.

UPDATE @ 8:10 a.m.

A tanker was hauling sodium hydroxide when it exploded in Anna Thursday morning, officials said.

The tanker driver said he had just filled up with fuel and was getting on southbound Interstate 75 when he heard a hissing sound. He got out of the tanker, and then it reportedly exploded. There was no fire, officials said.

The tanker was carrying 37,000 pounds of sodium hydroxide, and 3,400 pounds is now on the ground, officials said.

No one was evacuated from the area and no one was hurt.

The ramp from Ohio 119 to southbound Interstate 75 and Ohio 119 are closed in the area.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, sodium hydroxide is very corrosive to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract.

UPDATE @ 7:36 a.m.

A semi fire that prompted a HAZMAT callout is out.

We have a crew on scene and this story will be updated as additional information becomes available.

UPDATE @ 7 a.m.

All lanes of southbound I-75 have been reopened, following a temporary shut down for a HAZMAT situation.

The entry ramp from Ohio 119 to southbound Interstate 75 remains closed.

Scanner traffic from state troopers indicate the incident was caused by a vehicle fire.

We’ll update this page when new information is available.

FIRST REPORT

Dispatchers with the Ohio State Highway Patrol said all lanes of southbound Interstate 75 are shut down in Shelby County for a ‘situation’ with a hazardous materials team requested to the scene.

State troopers said the incident occurred at the 99 mile marker of southbound I-75, near the exit to Ohio 119 to Anna.

A HAZMAT team was requested to the scene, but additional details were not immediately available.

We have a crew heading to the scene and we’ll update this page when new information is available.