Crash spills hydrochloric acid, prompts evacuations
TIPTON, Ind. (AP) — Indiana State Police say six central Indiana homes were temporarily evacuated following a crash that caused a spill of about 4,000 pounds of hydrochloric acid.
Police says the crash about 5:30 a.m. Friday occurred on U.S. 31 in Tipton County, about 35 miles (57 kilometers) north of Indianapolis.
Police say a semitrailer carrying the acid and driven by 38-year-old Justin Walker of Louisville, Kentucky, stopped for a set of railroad tracks and was rear-ended by a semitrailer driven by 29-year-old Stephen Emery of Peru.
Winds helped dissipate a vapor cloud caused by the leaking acid that prompted the evacuations.
Police say the acid combined with spilled diesel fuel damaged the surface of the northbound lanes and forced a detour.
Both drivers suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene.
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Crash spills cocoa powder, batteries on freeway in Indiana
BURNS HARBOR, Ind. (AP) — A crash involving two semitrailers scattered cocoa powder and lithium batteries across an interstate in Indiana, closing part of the freeway.
No one was injured in the crash about 3:40 a.m. Friday along eastbound Interstate 94 in Burns Harbor. All eastbound lanes reopened by noon.
Indiana State Police say a truck driven by 70-year-old Radmilo Samardzio of Ballwin, Missouri, pulled over with its hazard lights on so he could get a bottle of water when it was struck by one driven by 57-year-old Steven S. Dare of Hudsonville, Michigan.
Police say a preliminary investigation found Dare reached for something, causing the truck to drift.
Samardzio was hauling food products including cocoa powder. Dare had merchandise that included roughly 100 pounds (45 kilograms) of lithium batteries. Police say some batteries leaked, briefly causing small fires.