A crash on Interstate 10 Tuesday afternoon closed Interstate 10 near Kolb Road and prompted an evacuation following a hazardous material spill, officials said.
The crash happened about 2:45 p.m. near milepost 272 and involved a commercial truck that rolled over and leaked hazardous materials, the Arizona Department of Public Safety said.Β
The Pima County Department of Environmental Quality said the hazardous material spilled was nitric acid. It was being hauled in liquid form, officials said.
Soon after the crash an emergency alert was issued that told people within one mile of the wreck to shelter in place. The affected area was loosely bound by Kolb and Houghton roads between Valencia and Voyager roads.
People also were advised to turn off heaters and air conditioning units that bring in outside air, the alert continued.
Tucson Fire Department units on the scene as hazardous smoke pours from a substance burning on I-10 near Kolb Road on Feb. 14.
The University of Arizona Tech Park also was evacuated.Β
Some schoolchildren in Rita Ranch sheltered in place, officials said in the afternoon. They asked parents topics up their children as soon as possible if they were attending any YMCA or community programs.
Officials were asking motorists to avoid the area.
The crash, which happened at milepost 272 on Interstate 10 in Tucson, involved a commercial truck that rolled over and leaked nitric acid, according to officials. Video courtesy of SirToppleBot via Twitter.
Drivers can find real-time highway conditions at az511.gov, the state's traveler information website.
ADOT also posts updates on Twitter @ArizonaDOT.
Tucson Fire Department units on the scene as hazardous smoke pours from a substance burning on I-10 near Kolb Road on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023.
