SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A federal transportation official said that the tragic tanker truck crash that claimed the lives of five people in central Illinois may have been triggered by another vehicle attempting to pass the chemical-laden truck. The tanker truck, carrying caustic anhydrous ammonia, jackknifed and hit a utility trailer parked off the highway, creating a six-inch hole in the chemical container.
NTSB member Tom Chapman revealed that the tanker truck’s driver veered to the right and ultimately ran off the road as it traveled west on U.S. 40 in Teutoplis, a small community approximately 110 miles northeast of St. Louis. The accident occurred at approximately 8:40 p.m. local time, spilling about half of the truck’s 7,500-gallon load of anhydrous ammonia.
Effingham County Coroner Kim Rhodes disclosed that among the five deceased were three members of the same family – one adult and two children under 12, as well as two adult motorists from out of state. Additionally, five individuals were airlifted to hospitals with unknown conditions.
In response to the crash, approximately 500 residents within a 1-mile radius of the site were evacuated, including parts of Teutopolis. Emergency crews worked throughout the night to mitigate the leak’s effects, struggling against shifting wind conditions.
Effingham County Sheriff Paul Kuhns described the hazardous air conditions caused by the leaking anhydrous ammonia as “terribly dangerous” for the northeast area of Teutopolis. Additionally, due to another truck crash on Interstate 70, traffic, including the tanker, was rerouted onto U.S. 40, compounding the situation.
Anhydrous ammonia, commonly used by farmers for fertilization and as a refrigerant, has been involved in other tragic incidents in the past, illustrating the potential dangers associated with its transportation and use.
It is imperative that stringent regulations and safety measures are consistently upheld to prevent similar tragedies in the future.