Tanker Wreck (10 images)
At about 1030 hours on Monday 7/30 Perry Township Fire
Department was dispatched to a report of a tanker truck turned over on Old
Henderson Road. Sketchy information was received from dispatch as to the exact
location.
Chief Jerry Bulger upon arrival requested a response from the Evansville Fire
Department regional hazardous materials response team after determining the
contents of the tank (placard 1710) was ethanol. Product was leaking from the
dome top of two or more of the tank compartments. Initial survey of the scene
determined minimal run off from the initial scene. IDEM was notified and Perry
Township treated the injured driver. The driver was treated and released from an
area hospital.
Back at the scene Perry Township Chief Jerry Bulger established a command post
and began preparation for the off loading of the tanker and its contents. Haz
Mat specialists were called and a tanker truck to contain the off loaded product
was requested. Additional resources were requested from both Evansville Fire and
County fire units.
At about 3:00pm all the right stuff was in place and the hot tapping process was
begun on the tanker.
After six holes were tapped through the tank the product was off-loaded. About
3800 gallons of alcohol was removed from the damaged tank.
Local wrecker service began the job of up-righting the tank and tractor and this
operation was successfully completed at about 8:30pm.
Additional information 8/1/07: According to IDEM the
ethanol that leaked from the tanker was absorbed by the ground and was found its
way into the ground water. Test wells drilled at the scene found signs of the
contamination. Ethanol mixes with water so it is not easy to remove. Click a picture to see a larger view.
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