Global Courant
A tanker truck carrying ammonium nitrate crashed on I-81 in Maryland early Monday morning, temporarily closing the roadway and prompting the evacuation of nearby businesses, authorities said.
The crash happened shortly before 6:15 a.m. in southbound lanes near Halfway Boulevard in Hagerstown, the Maryland State Police said in a press release.
According to a preliminary investigation, a tire appeared to burst from the truck, causing the vehicle to veer off the road and crash through a guardrail before rolling into an embankment.
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Officials worked Monday morning at the scene of a tanker truck crash along I-81 in Hagerstown, Maryland. The truck was carrying ammonium nitrate when officials said a tire was flat, causing the driver to lose control and crash into an embankment. (FOX5 DC WTTG)
According to the police, about three liters of ammonium nitrate was spilled on the road. As a precaution, nearby businesses within a radius of 450 meters from the crime scene were asked to evacuate.
The temporary evacuations were lifted before 9:30 a.m. after the tanker spilled about 3 liters of ammonium nitrate on the roadway, authorities said. While northbound lanes later reopened, the southbound lanes of the highway remained partially closed while authorities continue to investigate the accident. (FOX5 DC WTTG)
The truck driver, identified as a 32-year-old Pennsylvania man, was rushed to Meritus Medical Center for treatment. No immediate update on his condition was given, Fox 5 DC Reports.
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The evacuees from nearby businesses were allowed to return at 9:30 a.m., according to police.
The truck driver, a 32-year-old man from Pennsylvania, was taken to hospital with injuries after the accident. No immediate update on his condition was given. (FOX5 DC WTTG)
Northbound lanes reopened at 8:50 a.m., though southbound lanes of the highway remained partially closed.
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Officials said the cause of the crash is still under investigation.
