White County Public Safety officials are offering a detailed account of the HazMat incident near Helen Tuesday that involved 30,000-plus gallons of a flammable substance.
WHITE CO. PUBLIC SAFETY FACEBOOK POST (edited for brevity and clarity):
At 6:07 Tuesday morning, White County 911 Communications received reports of a tanker tractor-trailer overturned in a ditch along Highway 75 North at the intersection of Clayton Road. The tractor-trailer, operated by The Cashion Company Inc. of Fountain Inn, South Carolina, was en route to Cleveland, Tennessee. Initial reports confirmed no injuries from the accident.
The truck was carrying approximately 33,000 pounds of isopropyl alcohol, a flammable substance.
As a result, a hazardous materials (HazMat) operation was initiated to offload the liquid before safely removing the vehicle. A 1,000-foot safety perimeter was established around the scene, and a recommended evacuation was issued to residents and businesses within that radius. White County Emergency Management utilized the CodeRED system and firefighters conducted door-to-door notifications to ensure public safety.
During this time, all roads within the perimeter were closed. Traffic along Highway 75 North was rerouted via Highway 75 Alternate and north on Richard Russell Scenic Highway. There were no environmental damages or concerns as a result of this accident.
The road was fully reopened at 3:15 p.m.
White County EMS provided standby services throughout the operation, which was conducted without any significant spills of the hazardous material.
The cause of the accident is currently under investigation by the Georgia State Patrol and Georgia Department of Public Safety’s Motor Carrier Compliance Division, which will determine if any charges or citations will be issued.
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