18-wheeler driver dies after crash and chemical spill on FM-1725 in San Jacinto Co., Texas DPS says
SAN JACINTO COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- Crews are cleaning up a chemical spill after an 18-wheeler driver died in a crash on FM-1725 in San Jacinto County on Friday.
ABC13 learned from Office of Emergency Management officials that sulfur dioxide was the chemical spilled and that dozens of people had been treated for sore throat and cough, including a school bus with 29 kids on board.
In an afternoon update, Sgt. Sammy Lattner from Texas DPS said the driver was hauling a tanker trailer northbound on FM 1725 when the truck lost control for an unknown reason and overturned.
Lattner said the tank ruptured, leaving a "one-inch gap wide, approximately eight inches long." He said the truck was carrying 2,800 gallons of the chemical and is down to 1,500 gallons. At the time of the update, the leak was still active.
SkyEye video from above the scene shows two large clusters of emergency vehicles in the area, including several hazmat fire trucks.
The video also shows the overturned 18-wheeler on the side of the roadway, with a pool of liquid behind it. Emergency crews appeared to be a few miles away from the crash site.
According to the San Jacinto County Office of Emergency Management, a chemical odor from the truck was reported after the crash, and a shelter-in-place was issued.
Fire officials initially evacuated a mile-wide area around the truck crash at FM-1725 and Tyra Drive, near FM-3081. TxDOT Lufkin said the closure area was later expanded to three miles in each direction from the spill. Residents are being asked to stay away from the three-mile radius, and flight restrictions have been extended over the area three miles wide.
"At this time, troopers are actively going door to door requesting that residents in that affected area leave," Lattner said. "It's not mandatory but they're strongly encouraged to leave until we can get a cap on the safety of the situation."
Dean Harris said he woke up to a trooper knocking on his door. After learning what happened, he rounded up his parents and a few things and headed out. Harris and his parents were trying to wait it out in the parking lot of a nearby store but decided to get a hotel. They were not given a timeline on how long they would be away from their homes.
"You could actually start smelling it," Harris explained. "Actually, the state trooper was rushing. He started rushing even more, and they could smell it, and we could smell it. And it was like, 'It's time to go.' It's one of those situations where you know it's time to leave. You don't want to panic, but it's one of those situations where you stay forward."
Drivers are also being asked to avoid the area. FM-1725 is closed at FM-3081.
During our 9 a.m. streaming newscast, ABC13 spoke to Dr. Noreen Kahn-Mayberry about the situation unfolding.
"They are trying to conduct their due diligence and find out what exactly is going on, but it is from that kind of response you know that it is serious and when first responders who sign up to go in to take care of these issues are taking this kind of precaution, as a private individual you should take the utmost precaution and protect yourself at all costs and listen to them when they say shelter in place or tell you to get out of the area, get out of the area," Kahn-Mayberry said.
A shelter for evacuees is open at 250 Live Oak St. in Coldspring, according to the OEM.
Lattner said they are still trying to determine exactly how many people were hospitalized. He said the 29 students and a bus driver were taken to the hospital for headaches and respiratory problems, but they were released.
WATCH: Texas DPS gives update into truck crash, chemical spill in San Jacinto County
Hazmat specialists are still working to clear the scene and have put air monitoring devices in the area. Lattner said they were placed up to 200 yards from the crash site, and no issues have been reported.
The immediate area appears to be heavily wooded, with a few homes nearby.
Officials said there is no known time frame for reopening the area.
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