Truck Overturns, Hazardous Material Removed

The Wade Fire Protection District was dispatched to a semi-truck rollover on IL Rt. 130 at Clayton Avenue on the south end of Newton at 5:58 a.m. Wednesday. The spill was in the area of Norris Electric and Dollar General. When crews arrived on scene they discovered the truck was hauling a hazardous material and had overturned in a ditch and there was a product release.

Out of precaution, crews evacuated an area near the incident. A Hazardous Materials team was called to help mitigate the incident. The liquid product release was contained to the ditches. A hazardous materials cleanup company was contacted. There were no confirmed exposures.

Signs and symptoms of exposure to this hazardous substance include: within minutes to hours, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular systems predominate. Gastrointestinal -- a burning of nasal passages or inside mouth, metallic taste, garlic-like odor to breath, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain; Cardinovascular -- rapid heart rate, low blood pressure. Anyone who was in the area of the accident and exhibits these symptoms should contact their personal physician or go to the nearest hospital.

Those who have been evacuated are being let back into their homes. Rt. 130 will be shut down or reduced to one lane until the product is removed. Officials do not believe the product possesses any other hazards to the public.

The following agencies assisted with the incident -- Wade Fire Protection District, Jasper County Ambulance, Jasper County Sherriff's Department, Newton Police Department, City of Newton, Jasper County Emergency Management Agency, Crooked Creek Fire Department, Dieterich Fire Department, Oblong Fire Department, MABAS Division 54, Yale Fire Department, MABAS Division 26 Hazmat Team, Robinson Police Department, Illinois State Police, Illinois Department of Transportation, Jasper County Health Department and Richland County Ambulance.