Bishop Ford Reopened After Hazardous Leak From Chemical Tanker Truck is Cleaned Up
A portion of the Bishop Ford Freeway that was shutdown after a chemical tanker truck spilled acid onto the freeway pavement was reopened after cleanup was completed at the site of the hazardous leak.
The tanker truck broke down on the freeway early Wednesday morning. The large truck, which was transporting 45,000 lbs. of coal tar, began leaking about 5 lbs. of coal tar each minute. The substance spilled onto the roadway.
The Illinois Department of Transportation had to shut down the outbound expressway at around 6:45am. Meantime, fire crews that initially reported a hazardous materials response had to upgrade their call, reporting a Level 2.
Illinois State Police Lt. Luis Gutierrez says the corrosive is more dangerous to humans if they make physical contact with the substance than if the tar is inhaled. Technicians spent several hours pumping the liquid into an empty tanker.
The state of Illinois will conduct an investigation into the spill and will examine the tanker’s maintenance records and service records.
Our Chicago truck crash law firm represents truck accident victims that were injured in Illinois motor vehicle crashes involving large trucks or because they were exposed to hazardous materials that a large truck was supposed to be safely transporting.
Early this morning, lanes on the Bishop Ford Expressway were once again temporarily shut down after a collision between a semi-tractor trailer truck and a car. The Illinios truck accident occurred close to the scene of yesterday’s chemical truck leak when, according to police, a Buick LeSabre failed to merge correctly as it attempted to enter the expressway. The vehicle was rear ended by a car before being struck by the truck’s trailer. Six people, including three young children, were injured.
Bishop Ford lanes reopen after chemical spill, Southtown Star, July 22, 2009
Expressway Was Shut Down At 130th Street, CBS2Chicago.com, July 22, 2009
Six injured as car-truck crash slows Bishop Ford, Chicago Breaking News, July 23, 2009
Related Web Resource:
Illinois Department of Transportation
Contact Chicago truck accident lawyer Steve Malman today.
