Chemical Spill Closes Highway

A blown-out tire caused an 18-wheeler carrying a load of benzyl chloride to roll over on SH 71 west of Ellinger Sunday.

Classified as an “extremely hazardous substance” by U.S. trucking regulations, a small amount of toxic liquid leaked from the trailer. But there was no danger to the public according to Sgt. Darryl Tidwell with the Texas Department of Public Safety, who supervised the cleanup operation on Monday.

The crash happened at 5:34 p.m. on Sunday, May 19. Trooper Louis Gabler with the Texas Highway Patrol investigated the crash. According to Gabler’s report, Abdelmoneim Moneim, 50 of Houston, was driving a white 2018 Freightliner truck-tractor west on SH 71. The truck, owned by YY Transportation Services LLC of Richmond, was pulling a shipping container. Several tanks of benzyl chloride were inside the shipping container.

Gabler’s report said the Freightliner suffered a blownout tire, which caused the truck and trailer to roll on its side. Ellinger Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene. Ellinger Fire Chief Larry Bartosh said they decided to shut down the westbound lanes after discovering the leak. Bartosh said firefighters stayed on scene for about 13 hours monitoring the spill until a cleanup team from Lonestar Hazmat arrived around 6:30 a.m. on Monday.

The hazmat team built an earthen berm to contain the small amount of chemical that spilled and then removed the contaminated soil from the side of the roadway.

The wreck happened just west of the bridge on 71 across Cedar Creek. None of the benzyl chloride got into the creek. “It could have been really bad if that truck went off the bridge and into the creek,” Bartosh said. “We would have had to evacuate people for probably a mile to a mile-anda- half around.”

Neal and Amy Lochte, who live along SH 71 at the site of the wreck, expressed concern about the lack of communication from local emergency officials. The Lochtes said they thought the County or DPS should have sent out a reverse 911 call to inform residents about the chemical spill. Fayette County Emergency Management Coordinator Angela Hahn said the rules governing reverse 911 calls generally require a serious threat to the public. Hahn said the officials at the scene did not believe this incident met that criteria.

The Lochtes along with others in the area also expressed frustration with the traffic problems the wreck created. Traffic diverted through Fayetteville via FM 955 while the highway was shut down from Sunday afternoon until around 4 p.m. on Monday.

Google Maps and other GPS systems incorrectly show a way around the wreck scene down Biegel Rd. Many of the detoured motorists attempted to turn down Biegel Rd., even though a “No Outlet” sign stands prominently at the intersection with FM 955. Fayetteville Mayor Mike Stroup reported that some 18-wheelers had to back down the narrow county road to get out.

Stroup said he witnessed several “near-misses” at the intersection of FM 955 and SH 159 in Fayetteville. Stroup said no one from the County notified any Fayetteville officials about the detour until late Monday morning. By that time, traffic had inundated the small town. Hahn said she posted several announcements about the wreck and traffic detour on the Fayette County Emergency Management Facebook page, and the Sheriff’s Office shared it as well. In addition, she said County Judge Dan Mueller made announcements about the incident on KBUK radio. However, she apologized for not calling Stroup directly. Hahn said she will work to improve communications in the future.

Fayetteville City Councilman Allen Jurecka, who lives at the corner of FM 955 and SH 159, had a front-row seat for the traffic fiasco. Jurecka said he witnessed “lots of honking and a number of close-calls” during the nearly 24-hour detour.

“It’s not the first time 71 was closed down and we had traffic like this in town, but this one just lasted so long,” Jurecka said.

Jurecka said he thought someone should have directed traffic at the intersection.

“I think it’ll be a learning experience for the next time something like this happens,” he said.