A chilling tragedy unfolded in Illinois when an Illinois resident and his two children were among five people who tragically lost their lives due to anhydrous ammonia exposure. The perilous event occurred following the crash of a semi-truck carrying thousands of gallons of the toxic substance, as reported by the local medical examiner’s office.
The deceased were identified as Kenneth Bryan, a 34-year-old father, and his two young children, Rosie, 7, and Walker, 10. The others victims were Danny J. Smith, 67, and Vasile Cricovan, 31. Their identification was released by the Effingham County Coroner’s Office, who also announced that preliminary examinations indicate all five lives were claimed due to ammonia exposure. The official autopsies are expected to proceed come Monday.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) team, including motor carrier and hazmat investigators, have initiated an intensive inquiry into the incident on Sunday. According to Jennifer Gabris, a spokesperson for the NTSB, the chain of events that led to the accident commenced when an attempt was made to overtake the semi-truck.
Board member Tom Chapman shed light on the details, explaining, “Preliminary information suggests another vehicle attempted a passing maneuver near the tanker causing the semi-truck driver to swerve to the right. Resultantly, the truck departed from the road, rolled over, and the cargo tank was compromised.”
It was confirmed that the truck was transporting roughly 7,500 gallons of anhydrous ammonia during the Friday evening catastrophe. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency estimates that over half of this quantity, approximately 4,000 gallons, was released.
In addition to the five casualties, the accident led to several hospitalizations due to ammonia exposure. Among the victims, five required immediate airlifts to local medical facilities.
The chilling incident unfolded on US Highway 40 near Teutopolis, Illinois, almost 100 miles northeast of St Louis, Missouri. Investigations by the NTSB are underway to ascertain whether the ill-fated tanker truck was diverted onto the smaller highway due to a previous crash on Interstate 70.
Describing the aftermath, Chapman added, “Upon rolling over, the tanker jackknifed and exposed the head end of the tank. The momentum then propelled the tank forward, causing it to collide with the hitch on the utility trailer, leaving a gaping hole about 6 inches in diameter in the cargo tank.”
Over 500 people within a mile radius of the accident site were temporarily evacuated from Teutopolis. These residents were allowed to return home on Saturday night once tests confirmed a dissipation of the risk from the anhydrous ammonia, according to Teutopolis Assistant Fire Chief Joe Holomy.
The town’s fire department worked tirelessly from Friday evening into Saturday to secure a temporary patch on the ruptured semi-truck. This partially slowed the leak but did not entirely halt it, said Fire Chief Tim McMahon. The truck has since been drained and moved to a secure location pending further investigation by the NTSB and the Illinois State Police, who are both exploring the cause of the accident.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) emphasizes that anhydrous ammonia is a considerably potent form of household ammonia, carrying a concentration above 99 percent. High levels of ammonia can irritate and inflict burns on the skin, mouth, throat, lungs, and eyes. They also pose a lethal threat, potentially causing death or irreversible damage to the lungs. Exposure symptoms include difficulty in breathing, eye, nose or throat irritation, and burns or blisters.
