BY TANYA BRICKING
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Seven to 12 percent of the trucks traveling alongside you on local freeways are carrying hazardous materials.
One of those trucks -- loaded with 3,000 gallons of sulfuric acid -- tipped over during morning rush hour Thursday, spilling acid along the Sixth Street Viaduct in Queensgate and causing three businesses within a half-mile to be evacuated.
Firefighters described the spill as minor -- about 10 gallons spilled initially and 15 more gallons leaked when crews uprighted the tanker.
But the danger of sulfuric acid, which is toxic and potentially fatal when inhaled or ingested, kept specially trained firefighters from the Cincinnati Fire Division's hazardous materials unit busy most of the day.
"We have to make sure we protect the environment," Cincinnati District Fire Chief Mike Kroeger said.
SULFURIC ACID DANGERS
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Firefighters characterized Thursday's tanker spill of sulfuric acid in Queensgate as a small spill that posed minor risk to the community. Still, authorities evacuated the area within about half-mile of the site as a precaution.
According to the North American Emergency Response Guidebook: Sulfuric acid is toxic when inhaled, ingested or comes in contact with skin and eyes. It can cause severe injury, burns and even death. Fire will produce irritating, corrosive and - or toxic gases. Reaction with water may generate intense heat and increase the concentration of fumes in the air. It must be neutralized with dry material. Firefighters brought in soda ash to cover this spill.
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Thursday's accident was in an industrial area just west of downtown. The biggest problem for drivers was that the viaduct's eastbound lanes were closed for hours.
The only injury was to the driver, Deron Williams, 28, of Batavia, who suffered minor scrapes and bruises.
Hazardous materials crews in Cincinnati respond to about a dozen such accidents a year, Chief Kroeger said. And in most cases, the risk to the community is minimal.
Thursday's chemical spill posed no serious threat, even though several gallons of acid leaked into sewers, said Cincinnati District Fire Chief Charles Perry, hazardous materials coordinator and chief of the environmental crimes unit.
The accident happened about 8:10 a.m. when the Lindsey Motor Express driver, detoured by the Fort Washington Way truck ban, overturned on the Mehring Way exit. He was heading to the Cincinnati Gas & Electric Zimmer plant from Lindsey's Riverside headquarters, said Jody Lindsey, company vice president.
As firefighters started to right the truck to unload the remaining acid, more acid began to leak from previously unnoticed damage to the tanker. Another 10 gallons to 15 gallons leaked the second time, all contained within dikes.
By 2:30 p.m., firefighters neutralized the spilled acid with soda ash. They could not use water.
The company sent its own hazardous materials crew to the scene and assisted Cincinnati firefighters, Ms. Lindsey said.
Phillip Pina contributed to this report.
