Semi Hauling Hydrochloric Acid Overturns at Kansas Avenue and Highway 81 Bypass
Emergency crews establish warming shelter at The Cedars as area residents evacuated following hazmat incident.
MCPHERSON, Kan. — A semi-truck carrying 34,000 pounds of hydrochloric acid overturned at the intersection of Kansas Avenue and Highway 81 Bypass shortly after 9 a.m. Tuesday morning, prompting area evacuations and road closures. The truck driver self-extricated and refused medical treatment after being evaluated by McPherson EMS, while the McPherson Fire Department's Hazmat Team placed containment booms around storm drains to prevent the leaking acid from entering the sewer system. Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including McPherson Fire, Police, EMS, Sheriff's Office, Emergency Management, Kansas Highway Patrol, Kansas Department of Transportation, and the Salina Fire regional hazmat team deployed by the Kansas State Fire Marshal's office. An environmental remediation contractor is en route to handle cleanup of the spilled product, and a warming shelter has been established at The Cedars at 1021 Cedars Drive for evacuated residents, with roads in the area remaining closed while emergency crews work the scene.
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