AN urgent shelter-in-place was issued last night after a truck crash left one dead and sparked a nitric acid hazmat spill.
Residents within one mile of the toxic wreck in Tucson, Arizona, were urged to take cover immediately and turn off any units that bring in outside air.
4
4
4
4
The spill was the result of a tanker truck which rolled over on Interstate 10 between Kolb and Rita roads at about 2.45pm, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
The authority later confirmed the truck's driver had died in the tragic smash, while evacuations took place.
"Troopers anticipate an extensive closure; motorists are advised to avoid the area," the statement on the ADPS website read.
The agency said just after 5pm the tanker was "hauling nitric acid in liquid form."
READ MORE ON ARIZONA
Nitric acid is “very toxic by inhalation” and “corrosive to metals or tissue," per the National Library of Medicine.
Parts of Interstate 10 remained closed in the area in both directions, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.
There is no word on when the road may reopen, although the shelter-in-place was later confirmed to have been lifted.
Residents in the area reportedly earlier received an alert stating that the shelter-in-place could remain in effect for up to 12 hours, according to KOLD.
Most read in The US Sun
Meanwhile, students and staff at the University of Arizona Science & Tech Park were forced to evacuate.
Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including Tucson Fire, Pima County Office of Emergency Management, Arizona DPS, and the Department of Public Safety's Hazardous Materials Response Unit.
Unified Command later confirmed residents could continue to use their heaters and air conditioners within the one-mile perimeter around the incident.
The spill comes as residents in East Palestine, Ohio, continue to deal with the aftermath of a massive fire that erupted after a freight train derailed, forcing nearby residents to evacuate as flames engulf the area.
About 50 train cars veered off the tracks near the Ohio-Pennsylvania state line on February 3 at around 9pm.
The derailment caused the surrounding area in East Palestine to burst into flames.
Residents within a mile of the fire were ordered to evacuate.
Mayor Trent Conaway of the Village of East Palestine has declared a state of emergency.
