Hazmat Crews Clean Up After Tanker Leaks Onto I-70
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Hazmat crews worked to clean up a spill in Westmoreland County Sunday afternoon.
Between 11:30 a.m. and noon, a 100-gallon tanker was leaking onto the street and potentially into storm drains as it was traveling on Interstate 70.
"There was a motorist who saw it, called 911 and State Police issued a traffic stop on the vehicle," said Dan Stevens with Westmoreland County Public Safety.
It was initially reported that the tanker was carrying hydrochloric acid, but a spokesperson for Halliburton, which owns the truck, said it was primarily carrying water with traces of the acid.
Officials said the the acid-laced water wouldn't get into ground water and the storm sewers will be neutralized before getting to any of the water intake sources. The Department of Environmental Protection will work with them to determine any neutralization that needs to happen.
The tanker was parked under the Smithton exit near the interstate and the leak has since been plugged.
Officials said after discovering the leak, a half-mile evacuation perimeter was set up, but only the truck itself needed to be evacuated.
Traffic was also affected as exits 31 through 51 were closed. Reportedly traffic was backed up to the New Stanton Turnpike exit.
However, around 4 p.m. traffic was moving and the interstate had been reopened.
Stay with KDKA for more information.
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