The National Transportation Safety Board on Oct. 25 issued a preliminary report on a tanker truck accident on Sept. 29 near Teutopolis, Effingham County, Ill., that resulted in the death of five people and injured 11 (GM Oct. 6, p. 1).
The tanker truck, with approximately 7,500 gallons of anhydrous ammonia, was traveling west on US Highway 40, a two-lane road, according to NTSB. At the same time, an oncoming eastbound vehicle was approaching the westbound tanker truck, and a westbound passenger vehicle was passing the tanker truck in a no-passing zone.
The driver of tanker truck stated that to prevent a collision between the westbound passenger vehicle and the oncoming eastbound vehicle, he took evasive action by steering to the right. The tanker truck then left the road and traveled into a shallow roadside drainage ditch.
The tanker truck struck the end of a 12-inch-diameter corrugated metal pipe culvert installed beneath a field entrance, and the vehicle jackknifed and rolled onto its right side with its cargo tank sliding forward. The exposed front end of the cargo tank struck the tow ring of a utility trailer that had been parked adjacent to the roadway on private property. The tow ring punctured the front of the cargo tank, which led to the release of anhydrous ammonia.
The driver of the tanker truck vehicle sustained injuries as a result of
the crash and exposure to the ammonia. Additionally, five people in the area of
the crash died and 11 others sustained injuries ranging from minor to severe
due to their exposure to ammonia.
NTSB noted that the information in the report is preliminary and subject to
change. It said all aspects of the crash remain under investigation while it
determines the probable cause, with the intent of issuing safety
recommendations to prevent similar events.
On Oct. 5, the Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation reported that it was able to identify the vehicle passing the tanker truck and the individual believed to be involved in the accident, using information provided by the community, including surveillance video. ISP did not identify the individual.
The tanker truck was owned and operated by Prairieland Transport Ltd., Brownstown, Ill. The ammonia was owned by Nutrien Ltd. and was en route from the company’s Lima, Ohio, nitrogen facility to a company retail location in Warrensburg, Ill.