SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A fatal tanker truck crash in central Illinois that claimed five lives was believed to have been caused by another vehicle attempting to pass the chemical-laden truck, a federal transportation official said Sunday.
The tanker truck was transporting caustic anhydrous ammonia when it jackknifed on Friday night, hitting a utility trailer parked just off the highway, according to Tom Chapman, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board. The collision punctured a six-inch hole in the chemical container, leading to a catastrophic spill.
Chapman explained that the tanker truck’s driver veered to the right, eventually driving off the road as it traveled west on U.S. 40 in Teutopolis, a small community located about 110 miles northeast of St. Louis.
The accident, which occurred around 8:40 p.m. local time, resulted in the spilling of roughly half of the truck’s 7,500-gallon load. Effingham County Coroner Kim Rhodes confirmed that of the five victims, three were from the same family – an adult and two children under 12 – while the other two were motorists from out of state.
In addition to the fatalities, five people were airlifted to hospitals, with their conditions remaining unknown at this time. The names of the victims have not been released, and authorities have refrained from discussing the causes of death.
Following the accident, approximately 500 residents within a 1-mile radius of the crash site were evacuated, including parts of Teutopolis, as emergency crews worked to control the dangerous air conditions due to the chemical spill. Private and federal environmental contractors were called in to assist with cleanup efforts in the small town of 1,600 people.
The leak of anhydrous ammonia caused a large plume on the roadway, creating hazardous air conditions in the northeast area of Teutopolis. Effingham County Sheriff Paul Kuhns stated that the emergency responders had to wait until the conditions were mitigated before they could begin to address the spill.
The accident and subsequent evacuation had a significant impact on the community. Local resident Phillip Hartke described the town as a tight-knit community, pointing out that many residents have close relatives living within a few miles of the town.
Anhydrous ammonia is commonly utilized by farmers as a nitrogen fertilizer and refrigerant. Its transportation and use come with inherent risks, as demonstrated by previous incidents such as the one in suburban Chicago in 2019 that resulted in dozens of people being sickened after a leaking tank released a toxic gas cloud.
According to Don Schaefer, CEO of the Mid-West Truckers Association, the person driving a toxic-substance tanker must undergo additional training and testing beyond a commercial driver’s license to transport hazardous materials.
The investigation into the cause of the crash is still ongoing, with the National Transportation Safety Board taking the lead in determining the sequence of events that led to the tragic incident.