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January 17, 2013

No leak found in overturned tanker in Port Arthur

Julie Garcia The Port Arthur News

PORT ARTHUR — Traffic was shut down Thursday night when a tractor towing a tank trailer containing molten sulfur crashed into a  Toyota Camry in the 4300 block of Memorial where TX 69 connects with SH 73 in Port Arthur.

At about 6 p.m., police were dispatched to the location and discovered that the tractor had failed to merge into the correct lane from SH 73 onto TX 69 and struck the Camry that was in the inside lane, according to Sgt. C. Segler with the Port Arthur Police Department.

Segler said the Toytoa hit the concrete retaining wall, while the tractor attempted to steer away from  it by overcorrecting the wheel, which caused it and its connected trailer to overturn.

Due to the Haz-Mat conditions of the wreck, the roadway was closed and traffic was diverted for a few hours while the Port Arthur Fire Department and emergency services inspected the overturned tractor for any leaks, which were not found.

Both drivers had minor injuries and were taken to local hospitals for treatment, Segler said.

At press time, no sulfur leakage was found and all compartment hatches were secure, he said.

Via Blackboard and the Southeast Texas Alerting Network, PAPD was able to notify area media and the public about the wreck in hopes to stop any further traffic problems.

Email: jgarcia@panews.com

Twitter: @julesbmt

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