PIKE COUNTY, Mo. —
An accident involving a tanker truck has shut down lanes of southbound Highway 61 at Highway OO.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol said a tanker truck carrying 8500 gallons of ethanol overturned, spilling the fuel onto the highway. The MSHP said three compartments from the truck's tanker were ruptured and leaking.
Authorities have closed the highway off from Eolia to Bowling Green.
The Department of Natural Resources was requested. Authorities said the spill has been contained.
Hazmat crews have responded from local counties although authorities said the spill is not hazardous.
The MSHP said another vehicle may have been involved in the accident.
The driver of the tanker was airlifted to a hospital in serious condition. No injuries were reported from the other vehicle.
Both the northbound and southbound sections of the highway were closed initially.
Around 6:30 p.m., emergency crews reopened the northbound lanes.
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NB lanes of US-61 back open after hazardous crash in Pike County
Author: KSDK Staff
September 30, 2018
PIKE COUNTY, Mo. — A crash involving a tanker truck that was hauling hazardous material will keep all lanes of US-61 shut down for much of Sunday, MoDOT's Northeast District confirmed.
The crash happened at 12:24 p.m. just north of Highway OO near Eolia, which is just north of the Troy County-Lincoln County line.
The 8,500-gallon tanker was carrying ethanol. A photo from a 5 On Your Side viewer showed the truck upside down in a grassy ditch on the side of the road. A long line of traffic was stopped on the highway.