TEUTOPOLIS, IL – In central Illinois, a truck carrying a toxic substance overturned. This resulted in the death of five individuals and serious injuries to five others. The incident, which took place on Friday night, led to hundreds of residents being evacuated in the vicinity due to a hazardous leak from the truck’s cargo.
The truck, loaded with anhydrous ammonia, toppled over and spilled more than half of its 7,500-gallon load, as reported by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Among the deceased were three members of the same family, including two children under 12, and two out-of-state adult motorists. The injured were airlifted to nearby hospitals, with their conditions yet to be disclosed.
The cause of death for the victims has not been discussed by authorities, and their identities remain undisclosed. Emergency crews worked tirelessly through the night to control the toxic plume from the leak, facing challenges in approaching the crash site due to the hazardous conditions.
Effingham County Sheriff Paul Kuhns praised the bravery of the first responders at a Saturday morning press conference. Cleanup procedures are being planned by private and federal environmental contractors who were summoned to the scene. The National Transportation Safety Board will also be reviewing the incident.
The accident resulted in a large cloud of anhydrous ammonia on the roadway, creating dangerous air conditions in the northeast area of Teutopolis. The shifting wind made the situation even more challenging for the emergency crews. Approximately 500 residents within a one-mile radius of the crash site were evacuated.
Anhydrous ammonia, a substance used by farmers as a nitrogen fertilizer and as a refrigerant in large buildings, is transported across the United States via pipeline, trucks, and trains. Previous incidents involving the substance have resulted in sickness and even death.
As of Saturday afternoon, the accident scene remained heavily blockaded. Sheriff Kuhns requested patience from the public as the investigation and cleanup efforts continue.