SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A tragic tanker truck crash in central Illinois took the lives of five individuals, with a federal transportation official suggesting that the incident potentially began when another vehicle attempted to overtake the chemical-laden truck. The tanker truck, transporting caustic anhydrous ammonia, had jackknifed on Friday night, colliding with a utility trailer located beside the highway, causing a six-inch hole in the chemical container, according to Tom Chapman of the National Transportation Safety Board. Chapman revealed these details during a press conference on Sunday.
Chapman further explained that the driver of the tanker truck swerved to the right, ultimately veering off the road while traveling west on U.S. 40 in Teutoplis, a small town roughly 110 miles northeast of St. Louis. The series of events unfolded swiftly, according to Chapman, describing the sequence as rapid.
The tragic accident occurred around 8:40 p.m. local time, authorities later confirmed, revising the previously reported time of 9:25 p.m. The crash resulted in approximately half of the truck’s 7,500-gallon load of anhydrous ammonia being spilled at the scene. Effingham County Coroner Kim Rhodes disclosed that among the five casualties were three members of the same family – one adult and two children under the age of 12.
Moreover, the accident left five individuals airlifted to hospitals, their conditions remaining unknown. The identities of the victims were withheld by authorities, who did not provide information on the causes of death. Following the crash, about 500 residents residing within a 1-mile radius of the site were evacuated, including portions of Teutopolis in the northeastern direction.
Emergency responders faced challenges in controlling the chemical leak’s plume during the overnight hours immediately following the incident. Effingham County Sheriff Paul Kuhns highlighted the dangerous air conditions caused by the release of anhydrous ammonia in the area. Crews had to delay responding to the situation until conditions were stabilized, as the noxious cloud posed significant risks to the vicinity.
The subsequent investigation into the accident prompted authorities to relocate the remaining anhydrous ammonia to a secure location for further analysis, as efforts to cleanse the affected area in Teutopolis, a town with a population of 1,600, were initiated. The community members affected by the evacuation began to return to their residences after the situation was deemed safe by authorities.