The 57-year-old driver of a tractor-trailer carrying anhydrous ammonia was killed Friday, Nov. 19, in Falls County, Texas, after his vehicle struck a tree and ammonia leaked from the tank.
He was able to exit the vehicle, but was overwhelmed by the ammonia. A first responder from the Falls County Sheriff’s Office was also impacted by the leak, but was reported to have recovered at a local hospital.
Local residents in the area near the accident on Farm-to-Market Road 1240 were evacuated, and the road was closed. Ammonia was offloaded from the tank, and the scene was cleared on Monday morning, Nov. 22, according to KCENTV.