A safety investigation has been launched by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) into a collision in Illinois that caused a cargo tank carrying 7,500 gallons of anhydrous ammonia to overturn. The accident involved multiple vehicles and resulted in five fatalities and six people being hospitalized. The cargo tank started leaking after the impact, leading to the evacuation of 500 people. Preliminary findings suggest that the accident occurred when the driver of a semi-truck moved to the right of the road in response to another vehicle, causing the truck to roll over and compromise the cargo tank. The NTSB will be on the scene for several days and is urging any witnesses or individuals with relevant information to come forward.
The impact of the collision caused the cargo tank carrying anhydrous ammonia to start leaking, which led to the evacuation of around 500 people due to the dangerous air conditions. Effingham County Sheriff Paul Kuhns reported a “large plume” from the ammonia leak, resulting in an evacuation order within a one-mile radius of the crash site. Authorities have not yet provided information on the cause of the deaths caused by the accident. The NTSB, in collaboration with the Illinois State Police and Effingham County Sheriff’s Department, will conduct an investigation into the crash. Inhalation or contact with anhydrous ammonia can be fatal and cause severe respiratory injuries.
The town where the accident occurred, Teutopolis, is a small community of approximately 1,600 residents in Illinois. The NTSB’s investigative team will be present at the site for several days, and a preliminary report is expected to be published in about a month. The final reports typically take 12-24 months to complete. The NTSB is encouraging anyone who witnessed the collision or has relevant information to contact them. Anhydrous ammonia is a toxic substance that can also burn the skin and eyes, making it extremely dangerous in high concentrations.