TEUTOPOLIS, Illinois – The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into a collision that resulted in a cargo tank carrying 7,500 gallons of anhydrous ammonia to overturn in Illinois. The incident occurred on U.S. Highway 40 at around 9:25 p.m. local time, causing multiple vehicles to be involved in the accident near Teutopolis.
According to authorities, the collision led to five fatalities and six people being hospitalized. The victims’ identities have not yet been disclosed. The impact of the accident caused the cargo tank to start leaking, resulting in the evacuation of approximately 500 individuals.
During a press conference, NTSB board member Tom Chapman stated that a preliminary investigation revealed that the accident occurred when the driver of a semi-truck reacted to another vehicle by pulling to the right of the road, leading to the truck rolling over and compromising the cargo tank carrying the ammonia. The tank was punctured after colliding with a parked utility trailer, causing approximately half of the tank’s contents to leak.
Chapman emphasized that the NTSB will not speculate about the cause of the crash and that a preliminary report is expected to be published in about 30 days. Effingham County Sheriff Paul Kuhns reported a “large plume” from the ammonia leak, prompting an evacuation within an approximate one-mile radius of the crash site due to dangerous air conditions.
Further information regarding the cause of the deaths has not been disclosed, but officials confirmed that the highway between Teutopolis and Montrose is closed. The NTSB, in coordination with the Illinois State Police and the Effingham County Sheriff’s Department, will conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
Anhydrous ammonia inhalation can be fatal at high concentrations and can also cause severe respiratory injuries, skin and eye burns. Teutopolis, a town of over 1,600 people, is located approximately 92 miles southeast of Illinois’ capital, Springfield. The full extent of the damage and the cause of the collision will be further investigated by the NTSB and other relevant authorities.