18-wheeler driver dies after crash and chemical spill on FM-1725 in San Jacinto Co., Texas DPS says

SAN JACINTO COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- Crews are cleaning up a chemical spill after an 18-wheeler driver died in a crash on FM-1725 in San Jacinto County on Friday.

ABC13 learned from Office of Emergency Management officials that sulfur dioxide was the chemical spilled and that dozens of people had been treated for sore throat and cough, including a school bus with 29 kids on board.

In an afternoon update, Sgt. Sammy Lattner from Texas DPS said the driver was hauling a tanker trailer northbound on FM 1725 when the truck lost control for an unknown reason and overturned.

Lattner said the tank ruptured, leaving a "one-inch gap wide, approximately eight inches long." He said the truck was carrying 2,800 gallons of the chemical and is down to 1,500 gallons. At the time of the update, the leak was still active.

SkyEye video from above the scene shows two large clusters of emergency vehicles in the area, including several hazmat fire trucks.

The video also shows the overturned 18-wheeler on the side of the roadway, with a pool of liquid behind it. Emergency crews appeared to be a few miles away from the crash site.

According to the San Jacinto County Office of Emergency Management, a chemical odor from the truck was reported after the crash, and a shelter-in-place was issued.

Fire officials initially evacuated a mile-wide area around the truck crash at FM-1725 and Tyra Drive, near FM-3081. TxDOT Lufkin said the closure area was later expanded to three miles in each direction from the spill. Residents are being asked to stay away from the three-mile radius, and flight restrictions have been extended over the area three miles wide.

"At this time, troopers are actively going door to door requesting that residents in that affected area leave," Lattner said. "It's not mandatory but they're strongly encouraged to leave until we can get a cap on the safety of the situation."

Dean Harris said he woke up to a trooper knocking on his door. After learning what happened, he rounded up his parents and a few things and headed out. Harris and his parents were trying to wait it out in the parking lot of a nearby store but decided to get a hotel. They were not given a timeline on how long they would be away from their homes.