Chemical Truck Accident Closes Road In Seneca

Press Release, Aug 21, 2006

SENECA -- An 18-wheeler hauling a trailer containing several containers filled with chemicals split in two Wednesday as crews were preparing to unload it at Engelhard Corp. in Seneca.

The accident forced emergency officials to close nearby Strawberry Farm Road for much of the day. No one was evacuated from the area.

Oconee County Emergency Management Director Henry Gordon Jr. said a county hazardous materials team was called to the scene and determined that none of the chemicals spilled from the truck.

The cause of the accident was still under investigation late Wednesday, Gordon said.

"There was no (chemical) release at all. We got lucky on it," Gordon said. " All we had was one container that was slightly dented."

Brenntag Southeast Inc. was off-loading the chemicals late Wednesday from the damaged trailer onto another truck, Gordon said.

The chemicals on the truck were in the process of being delivered to Engelhard when the incident happened.

According the Gordon, the eight chemicals were acetic acid, acetic acid solution, formic acid, hydrogen peroxide, nitric acid, ammonia chloride, sodium sulfate and copper chloride.