MARCH 27, 2015
JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN (WKOW)
UPDATE (WKOW) -- Rock County Hazmat team is on the scene of
a chemical spill near Janesville.
According to Janesville Fire Department, a semi trailer truck
side-swiped another semi-truck on Interstate 90 just before 1:50 a.m. Friday. One of the semi trucks was stalled on the road
due to an earlier fire. The collision
happened just north of the Racine Street/Highway 11 exit, according to Ron
Bomkamp, shift commander at the Janesville Fire Department.
One of the semi trucks was carrying 15 different chemicals. —some
in solid form and others in 55-gallon drums, Bomkamp said.
The dock manager of where the chemicals were loaded in
Rockford, Illinois, is on his way to Janesville to help identify the chemicals,
he said.
As of 6 a.m., only two have been identified. Fire
officials say 55 gallon drums are leaking. The Hazmat team is working to
identify all the chemicals.
No one has been evacuated, but officials say that some
evacuations could take place if the wind changes. There have been no reports of
injuries.
A clean up crew from Elkhart, Indiana has also been called
to the scene. The Wisconsin National Guard and Rock County Emergency Management
have been contacted.
All westbound lanes of I-39/90 near Racine Street (WIS 11)
will be closed for several hours, officials say.
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A chemical spill overnight has closed part of the interstate
near Janesville.
The Wisconsin State Patrol says the accident happened around 1:50 a.m. Friday in the westbound lanes of I-39/90 near Racine Street (WIS 11). All westbound lanes of the interstate are still blocked as of 4:15 a.m.
The Department of Transportation says westbound traffic should exit onto Racine Street and go east to U.S. 14, then north back to I-39/90.
The Wisconsin State Patrol says the accident happened around 1:50 a.m. Friday in the westbound lanes of I-39/90 near Racine Street (WIS 11). All westbound lanes of the interstate are still blocked as of 4:15 a.m.
The Department of Transportation says westbound traffic should exit onto Racine Street and go east to U.S. 14, then north back to I-39/90.
The Janesville Police Department is currently assisting the
Wisconsin State Patrol and Janesville Fire Department with the chemical spill.
Authorities won't give any more details on what exactly happened.
They expect to be in the area cleaning up for several more hours.
They expect to be in the area cleaning up for several more hours.