The Midland Fire Department’s (MFD) HAZMAT team responded to a chemical spill on Interstate 20 (I-20) between Lamesa Road and North Fairgrounds Road. "Three chemical totes ruptured, resulting in the spill," the department said. The incident occurred when two westbound trucks traveling on East I-20 were involved in an incident. "Citing authorities, the post said that the truck in the left lane attempted a lane change and caused the truck traveling in the right lane to veer off the roadway," the department explained. As a result, three chemical totes ruptured, leading to the spill.
The spill forced the closure of the northside feeder road of I-20 between Lamesa Road and North Fairgrounds Road for several hours to allow for cleanup. The MFD stated in a Facebook post that at least one person was transported to the hospital for medical attention. Authorities are currently investigating the incident.
The Guardian reported earlier this year that the Coalition to Prevent Chemical Disasters recorded more than incidents in the first seven weeks of the year, averaging about one incident every day and a half. In total, there were 188 incidents last year, an increase of ten compared to the previous year. However, the exact number of hazardous chemical incidents is unknown due to the involvement of numerous agencies in the country's response.