Houses Evacuated Over Fears Of Explosive Gas From Overturned Tractor Trailer

by The Associated Press | February 12, 2008 at 07:14 am

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Residents in the Waterbury/Middlebury area have been evacuated from their homes after a tractor trailer carrying hydrogen gas crashed on Interstate 84.

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(CBS/AP) Dozens of homes have been evacuated because an overturned tractor trailer is leaking hydrogen gas on Interstate 84. The road's closure is causing major traffic problems in the area.

The rig overturned about 5:30 a.m. Tuesday and both lanes of the major throughfare are closed, state police said. Hydrogen gas is highly explosive.

Both sides of the highway will remain closed for an indefinite amount of time, state police spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance told the Hartford Courant.

The tractor trailer may be leaking compressed hydrogen gas, prompting a "full Hazmat response," Vance said. Fire crews, the Department of Environmental Protection and other agencies are expected to respond to the scene, reports the Courant.

The heavily used highway is one of the main routes from Massachusetts into New York state.