Truck crash, chemical spill closes I-84 for 8 hours

A truck hauling a corrosive chemical crashed and overturned on icy Interstate 84 in Eastern Oregon early Monday, causing the trailer to rupture and prompting an isolation area and lengthy closure of the freeway, Oregon State Police said.

OSP troopers responded to the crash reported around 4 a.m. on westbound I-84 at milepost 23 near Meacham in Umatilla County, said OSP Lt. Mark Duncan.

Investigators said a green 2006 Freightliner truck hauling tetramethylammonium hydroxide (an ammonia solution, which is a corrosive) was traveling westbound on I-84 when the driver, Dona Carlson, 42, of Prescott, Arkansas lost control of the rig on the icy highway.

The vehicle combination went into the median and the trailer rolled onto its side and ruptured, Duncan said.

Carlson and her male passenger, Morrey Carlson, 42, also of Prescott, were not injured.

OSP and the Oregon Department of Transportation initially set up an isolation distance of 1/2 mile in all directions due to the hazardous materials concern.

The Umatilla County Fire District No. 1 Hazardous Materials Unit, the Umatilla Tribal Fire Department and the National Response Corporation Environmental Services responded to the scene. The investigation is ongoing, Duncan said.

I-84 was initially closed for more than eight hours in both directions while crews tended to the scene. Intermittent closures are still in effect, Duncan said late Monday afternoon.

If traveling, he said, plan accordingly and have an alternate route in mind if necessary. Go to www.tripcheck.com for updates on road closures and weather information.