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Tanker Leak Shuts Down I-75 In Sidney

Updated 7:30am Wednesday, June 18, 2014

I-75 near Sidney, Ohio is open after being shut down most of the day Tuesday. A tanker truck leaked a dangerous chemical onto the road, leading officials to evacuate a roughly one-mile radius around exit 92, about 40 miles north of Dayton.

In its concentrated form, the chemical anhydrous ammonia can burn skin on contact and is very dangerous to breathe. It’s often used as a fertilizer.

Sidney Police Chief William Balling 
said the situation was helped by a recent emergency operations drill conducted in Sidney after another chemical spill.

“We did an EOC (Emergency Operations Center) exercise very similar to this where hazardous material was leaking from a vehicle,” he says.  “Obviously, the great thing about that - it did give out pointers and benefits we [were] able to use.”

Officials reopened I-75 around 4pm Tuesday when they determined the spill was contained and the chemical was moved to another truck. No injuries were reported.

 
Updated 4pm. Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Metro-traffic reporting that I-75 has reopened in both directions. Some delays may still occur as HAZMAT, ODOT, and local law enforcement work to remove their operations from the site near Sidney.

Updated 3pm. Tuesday, June 17, 2014

A chemical spill I-75 at exit 92, southbound near Sidney, Ohio – forty miles north of Dayton – has shutdown the highway in both directions.

The spill has also led officials to evacuate a one mile radius of the site where a tanker truck is reportedly leaking anhydrous ammonia – a chemical that can burn skin on contact and very dangerous to breathe.

Sidney Police Chief William Balling says HAZMAT crews are working to remove the hazardous liquid and gas from the tanker, which is still on the scene. Balling says if all goes well, they'll be able to reopen the interstate by 5pm.

The incident was reported just before 10 a.m., and communication director with the Ohio Department of Transportation, Mandi Dillon, says they have extended the road closure to alleviate a major backup resulting from this tanker leak.

Official ODOT detour:

Southbound traffic on I-75 - Take SR 274 east to SR 235 south to US 36 west.

Northbound traffic on I-75 - Take US 36 east to SR 235 north to SR 274 west

Jerry began volunteering at WYSO in 1991 and hosting Sunday night's Alpha Rhythms in 1992. He joined the YSO staff in 2007 as Morning Edition Host, then All Things Considered. He's hosted Sunday morning's WYSO Weekend since 2008 and produced several radio dramas and specials . In 2009 Jerry received the Best Feature award from Public Radio News Directors Inc., and was named the 2023 winner of the Ohio Associated Press Media Editors Best Anchor/News Host award. His current, heart-felt projects include the occasional series Bulletin Board Diaries, which focuses on local, old-school advertisers and small business owners. He has also returned as the co-host Alpha Rhythms.
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