I-95 reopens after hazardous material is set ablaze following tractor-trailer crash

1433
Advertisement

Both lanes of  Interstate 95 and exits  reopened before  4 p.m. today  following a tractor-trailer-pickup truck  accident involving potentially explosive cargo.

Earlier, both northbound and southbound I-95 were closed. A perimeter was  established on I-95. Back-ups were possible on northbound I-95, due to road repairs tied to he accident.

Traffic  was  diverted to alternate routes and signal adjustments were made, the Delaware Department of Transportation reported.

Based on TV footage, the injury accident  involved a tractor trailer and a commercial pickup truck pulling a work trailer. Route 141 is now open after being closed for a time.

New Castle County Paramedics remained on the  scene throughout the day.

Advertisement

Hazardous material teams from throughout Delaware worked in hot weather conditions to deal with the incident. Multiple agencies were on the scene.

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control earlier reported the lifting of a shelter-in-place directive that spanned a light populated  half-mile radius around the crash scene.

Agencies had to deal  with a  trailer load of organic peroxide, a hazardous material. 

DNREC’s Emergency Response and Prevention section burned  off the peroxide shortly after 1 p.m.

Christiana Fire Co. reported the hazardous cargo was actually being carried in the pickup truck’s trailer.

The unified incident command determined the safer option was to burn the cargo rather than  attempting to move it. No lingering air quality impacts are expected.

The closing clogged traffic in western New Castle County during the morning commute as motorists sought alternate routes. 

Traffic was diverted to a number of secondary routes, with the temporary closing of Route 141 further complicating matters.

For up to date information regarding traffic, click on the link below.

http://www.deldot.gov/Traffic/travel_advisory/index.shtml#advisories.

Advertisement
Advertisement