Truck with hazardous substance crashes near Eersel; A67 highway closed

Te A67 highway between Eindhoven and Antwerp is closed in both directions near Eersel after a tanker carrying a hazardous, corrosive substance crashed through the middle rail on Friday morning.

The truck was carrying sodium hydroxide, according to Eindhovens Dagblad. The accident happened just after 5:30 a.m. The truck, traveling from the direction of Eindhoven, crashed through the middle rail and toppled. A car then crashed into the truck, causing a leak.

Currently only firefighters in protective gear can come close to the vehicles, according to the newspaper. The area around the truck is closed. No one is allowed on one side of the truck, because the wind is blowing that way. Sodium hydroxide is a corrosive substance that can cause irritation to th skin or airway. There is no risk of explosion.

The A67 is closed between Eersel and De Hogt junction in both directions. Around 6:30 a.m. the police on the scene said that the highway will be closed for another six or seven hours at least. The truck must be emptied on the spot. A professional company was called in to do so.

The truck driver sustained minor injuries in the crash. He was taken to hospital for treatment. The driver of the car that crashed into the truck was not injured.

De #A67 bij Eindhoven blijft waarschijnlijk nog 6 à 7 uur dicht door de gekantelde vrachtwagen met sodium hydroxide bij knooppunt De Hogt. Meer informatie via @ED_Regio: https://t.co/shfcRaSDse.

— ANWB Verkeersinformatie (@ANWBverkeer) March 16, 2018