Hazardous Spill, Forced Evacuation Following Deadly Crash on Arizona Interstate...

by Candace Hathaway at Blazemedia

On Tuesday afternoon, a deadly crash on an interstate highway in Tucson, Arizona, caused hazardous chemicals to leak from a commercial tanker truck, leading to a forced evacuation and highway closures, KGUN-TV reported.

Around 3 p.m. on Tuesday, a truck carrying a load of nitric acid overturned on Interstate 10, causing authorities to issue an extensive highway closure and a shelter-in-place order for those within a one-mile radius of the crash.

The driver of the commercial tanker vehicle was killed as a result of the crash, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Few other details about the incident have been released.

Following the crash, drivers in the area shared videos on social media showing orange and red fumes rising from the wreckage.

DPS posted on Twitter shortly after the incident, “Interstate 10 is closed in BOTH directions between Rita Road & Kolb Road in Tucson due to a crash and a hazmat spill. We anticipate an extensive closure. Please avoid the area.”