Chemical spill closes highways
Chemical spill closes highways
By Jerry W. Kram
A semi took the corner of N.D. Highways 23 and 37 too quickly last week and created a spill that blocked traffic for most of the day, Thursday, Sept. 29.
According to the North Dakota Highway Patrol, Ramon Savedra, St. Lamont, Calif., was driving a 2012 Kenworth with a semi trailer loaded with 12 totes of liquid chemicals from Williston to Parshall. About 9:40 a.m., Savedra tried to make the right turn from Highway 23 onto 37 two miles north of Parshall. He turned too sharply and his load shifted causing the truck and trail to overturn. Several of the totes came off the trailer and spilled into the ditch on the southeast corner of the intersection.
Several of the totes ruptured and released chemicals. Two of the totes were carrying potassium hydroxide, a hazardous material similar to lye. A small dike was erected to contain the chemicals until the spill could be cleaned up.
Savedra and his passenger Ivan Lievanos, Bakersfield, Calif., were not injured in the accident. They were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.
East bound traffic on Highway 23 and north and south traffic on Highway 37 were detoured for most of the day.
Along with the Highway Patrol, the Mountrail County Sheriff’s Department and Parshall Volunteer Fire Department responded to the accident. The Hazardous Materials Response Team from the Minot Air Force Base also responded to the scene to assist with the handling of the hazardous material spill.
Halliburton, the company hauling the chemical, sent an emergency response team from Williston to assist in the cleanup.
