Tanker carrying potentially explosive ammonium nitrate overturns on Maryland highway, forcing businesses within 1,500ft to evacuate
- The crash happened around 6:15 a.m. Monday.
- Authorities have asked businesses within 1,500 feet of the scene to evacuate
- First responders head to the scene, but it’s unclear if there are any injuries
A tanker carrying ammonium nitrate overturned on a Maryland highway, prompting evacuations in the area.
The truck carrying the potential explosive overturned on Interstate 81 in Hagerstown, about an hour west of Baltimore.
Authorities have asked businesses within 1,500 feet of the scene to evacuate and the road will remain closed for an extended period.
According to Maryland State Police, the crash happened around 6:15 a.m. Monday.
They said on Twitter that the accident happened on the north side of the road near Halfway Boulevard.
A tanker truck carrying ammonium nitrate overturned on a Maryland highway, prompting evacuations in the area
According to Maryland State Police, the crash happened around 6:15 a.m. Monday.
First responders are heading to the scene, but it is not known if there are any injuries.
However, footage released by local ABC affiliate WJLA shows the truck overturned on the side of the road with no lights visible.
Police said the road would remain closed for an “extended period” and asked people to avoid the area.
In their last public update posted at 9 a.m. EST, they added that northbound I-81 has reopened. The southbound road remains closed.
DailyMail.com has contacted Maryland State Police for further details.
Ammonium nitrate is a chemical used to make fertilizers and explosives. It is also used as a nutrient in the production of antibiotics and yeast.
Earlier this month, a tractor-trailer carrying gasoline overturned on an Interstate 95 off-ramp in Philadelphia and burst into flames, killing the driver and closing the coast’s main transportation artery. East.
Speaking to reporters at the site of the deadly overpass collapse, Buttigieg said there was no doubt the incident would impact the price of goods by increasing the cost of shipping.
On average, about 160,000 vehicles per day used the affected section of the highway, he said, of which about 8% were commercial trucks, or about 12,800.
