Five people were killed, including two children, when a tanker truck carrying anhydrous ammonia wrecked and ruptured near Teutopolis, Ill., some 200 miles south of Chicago, around 8:42 p.m. on Sept. 29. All are believed to have died from ammonia inhalation.
At least five others, including the driver of the tanker truck, were airlifted to hospitals. Others were taken by ambulance.
A large plume of ammonia was released and some 500 local residents were evacuated and not allowed to return to their homes until 8:00 p.m. on Sept. 30. Some of those that were evacuated or were away from home reported the deaths of pets and livestock.
The accident occurred on US Highway 40, which had to be closed between Effingham, Ill., and Montrose, Ill., until the crash scene could be cleaned up. The tanker was carrying 7,500 gallons, with an estimated 4,000 gallons leaking at the crash site. Responders were unable to immediately stop the leak but were successful the next day and the remaining ammonia was offloaded.
The crash scene was reported to be large, with multiple vehicles involved. Traffic was reported to be heavy on the road as the tanker truck and other vehicles were being rerouted onto the road due to another truck wreck on Interstate 70.
The Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation reported on Oct. 5 that it was able to identify the vehicle and individual believed to be involved in the accident, using information provided by the community, including surveillance video. ISP did not identify the individual and said no additional information was available at this time, but said the investigation continues.
ISP said the initial investigation indicated a dark colored vehicle was potentially involved in the incident as it attempted to pass the truck. The truck reportedly moved to the right as the vehicle attempted to pass, but then jackknifed and rolled over, hitting a utility trailer that was parked off the road. The utility trailer’s hitch reportedly puncturing the ammonia tank.
The dead included three of members of a local family – Kenneth Bryan, 34, of Teutopolis, and Walker Bryan, 10, and Rosie Bryan, 7, both of Beecher City. They were reportedly overcome by a cloud of ammonia while in front of Kenneth Bryan’s home. The two other victims were out-of- state residents – Vasile Cricovan, 31, of Twinsburg, Ohio, and Danny Smith, 67, of New Haven, Mo.
Nutrien Ltd. confirmed that the anhydrous ammonia originated from one of its plants and was on its way to one of the company’s retail locations.
“We were deeply saddened to learn that five people died as a result of the multi-vehicle collision and release of ammonia from a third-party ammonia transport operated by Prairieland Transport on Sept. 29, outside Teutopolis, Ill.,” a Nutrien spokesperson told Green Markets. “While no Nutrien employees or equipment were involved in the incident, the tanker was en route to deliver the ammonia to a Nutrien retail location in Warrensburg, Ill., from our Lima, Ohio Nitrogen facility.”
“We understand that there were also five additional people injured and hospitalized,” the Nutrien spokesperson added. “Our deepest sympathy goes out to the families and friends of those who died in the incident, those injured, and all those inconvenienced by the evacuations implemented by the local authorities.”
Nutrien shares closed on the New York Stock Exchange at $61.76 on Sept. 29 but had dropped by 7.4% to close at $57.21 on Oct. 3. However, shares were working their way back up on Oct. 4-5.