A small truck carrying thousands of gallons of hazardous material crashed in southern Illinois, leading to the tragic deaths of five individuals and leaving five others with severe injuries, as reported by Cairo News.
The truck was transporting about 7,500 gallons of anhydrous ammonia when it crashed late near the town of Teutopolis in Effingham County.
According to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, initial estimates indicated a leakage of 4,000 gallons, resulting in the evacuation of around 500 people from the area.
The Coroner's Office in Effingham County confirmed that among the deceased were two children under the age of 12, and three of the victims were from the same family.
Five injured individuals were airlifted to local hospitals.
This tragic accident underscores the importance of safety measures and regulations surrounding the transportation of hazardous materials, and authorities are actively investigating the incident to determine its exact cause.
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