The truck was traveling in the outbound lanes of Highway 290 at Mueschke around 9:15pm when it was involved in an accident with a car, spilling a chemical that TxDOT identified as aluminum sulfate, otherwise known as sulfuric acid.
During the cleanup process, all lanes of the freeway were shut down, along with both the inbound and outbound feeder roads. By morning, only the westbound lanes remained shut down as repairs were made to damaged concrete and traffic barriers. All lanes were reopened after lunchtime.
"Units on scene identified it as a HazMat scene," said Robert Resa with the Cy Fair Volunteer Department. "Precinct 4 notified us that the tank was separated from the tractor and was leaking product onto the roadway."
Two deputies were treated for exposure to the chemical at the scene. As a precaution, the fire department ordered customers and employees of a Buc-ees and a nearby restaurant to evacuate.
In all, about 5,000 gallons of the chemical spilled onto the roadway. Neither the driver of the 18-wheeler nor the driver of the vehicle that hit the truck was hurt.
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