A semi-truck carrying ammonia overturned in Illinois Friday night forcing evacuations in the area, Effingham County authorities said.
The crash occurred less than a mile east of Teutopolis near an intersection of Route 40, authorities said.
A hazardous materials unit was called to the scene and about 500 residents were asked to evacuate.
The crash also killed five people and left five others with unspecified injuries. The victims were transported to area hospitals to receive emergency medical treatment.
The incident caused “a large plume, cloud of anhydrous ammonia on the roadway that caused terribly dangerous air conditions in the northeast area of Teutopolis,” Effingham County Sheriff Paul Kuhns said.
“Because of these conditions, the emergency responders had to wait. They had to mitigate the conditions before they could really get to work on it, and it was a fairly large area.”
