Leaking tanker forces closure of I-5 North in Seattle
SEATTLE -- Hazardous materials teams ordered the shut down of all northbound lanes of I-5 in Seattle near the I-90 interchange for over two hours Wednesday afternoon when a tanker truck began leaking toxic material.
Some lanes of traffic finally reopened just before 3:20 p.m.
Troopers were called to the scene initially as a report of a disabled tanker on the onramp to I-90 just after 1 p.m., but when troopers arrived, they discovered the spill, Seattle fire officials said.
Originally, Seattle fire officials estimated 50 gallons of sodium borohydride had leaked from the tanker. But later, officials revised the estimate to just two gallons. The leaking substance is used to bleach wood and is quite toxic, fire officials said.
Crews kept everyone at least 300 feet back from the tanker as hazmat teams worked to contain and clean up the spill.
At the peak of the incident, the backup stretched for several miles. There is no word what caused the leak.
Department of Transportation officials say the mess should be cleaned up and all lanes reopened by 7:30 p.m.
Some lanes of traffic finally reopened just before 3:20 p.m.
Troopers were called to the scene initially as a report of a disabled tanker on the onramp to I-90 just after 1 p.m., but when troopers arrived, they discovered the spill, Seattle fire officials said.
Originally, Seattle fire officials estimated 50 gallons of sodium borohydride had leaked from the tanker. But later, officials revised the estimate to just two gallons. The leaking substance is used to bleach wood and is quite toxic, fire officials said.
Crews kept everyone at least 300 feet back from the tanker as hazmat teams worked to contain and clean up the spill.
At the peak of the incident, the backup stretched for several miles. There is no word what caused the leak.
Department of Transportation officials say the mess should be cleaned up and all lanes reopened by 7:30 p.m.
why are the news agencies so quick to demonize big trucks? you should spend a few minutes a week in the traffic reports educating drivers on the rules of the road. most people drive like complete jerks around big trucks. they cut them off causing them to brake quickly, which -can- be the cause of problems like this.
Next time I hear someone yap about spending tax money to safeguard our country against a nuclear holocaust or asteroid impact, I'll remind them about the time that 2 gal of bleach shut down the city of Seattle.
Sodium borohydride is not bleach and can be pretty dangerous stuff.  The MSDS states it has a reactivity level of 2 and says it can "react violently with water or may cause explosive mixtures with water." It would not have been wise for them to just rinse it down the storm drain. I agree that the traffic back-up was inconvenient (I got caught in it too), but I would rather they played it on the safe side and cleaned it up properly than just trying to do a quick clean up that might have caused more damage to people and property.Â
 @PatriotOGrady Next time you go clean it up
 @TruthinAdverts TWO GALLONS? come on...they totally over reacted, causing thousands of people to sit idle for hours over TWO gallons.
 @Saving Grace You have no idea what was initially reported. Perhaps the truck driver initially reported that it was the 50 gallons. They have no way of determining if the truck itself is masking part of that spill, or if the spill has entered a storm drain system. They cannot tell any of this UNTIL hazmat techs approach the potentially deadly cargo. It's really wonderful to be an Monday morning quarterback, but these firefighters didn't have that advantage, and they had to assume the worse based off initial reports until they could (and did) prove otherwise. If 4 of them had walked up and collapsed in the first few minutes of that call... you'd likely be calling them idiots for not giving the situation dramatically more respect and caution. And once that back up happened and the freeway closed.... there was going to be no undoing the ensuing traffic nightmare for some time. Honestly... you second guessers who don't have a clue really need to go focus on watching American Idol or whatever it is that you actually do best.Â
2 gallons? Srsly?? Wow, a bit of an overreaction, I'd say. Still, better safe than sorry!
50 gallons revised down to 2 gallons? Â They missed it by what....96%? Â A first grader could have guessed that close.
Based on the traffic data on DOT's site, looks like southbound is a hell of a lot more affected than northbound.
@Zoso Boo! I have to commute South on I-5, go figure! Damn Lookey-Loos. UGH.
 @Alexandria Pelton Exactly! I remember having to be stuck in a 12 mile back up in the Everett area on Thanksgiving awhile back for at least an hour because of those Lookey Loos. It was a big semi crash but it was WAY off the shoulder and was cleared hours prior. To all drivers; QUIT LOOKING AND DRIVE!!!
 @Zoso I was in that same backup.  Insanity!
Wow..estimated 50 gallons and it only turned out to be 2. Which, is still icky stuff no doubt. But 2 has to be easier to clean up than 50 even if it isn't easy stuff to clean up.
No problem, I-90 is closed for the Blue Angels. One more traffic mess to contend with this afternoon.
 @hi61izq I-90 is not closed for the Blue Angels.  That starts tomorrow.
sodium borohydride is nasty stuff. It's also difficult and time consuming to clean up.Â
One of the many reasons I am glad not live Seattle!
 @wynooheeman Yeah, they never ever get toxic spills outside of Seattle <eye roll>
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 @iloverailingursisterscornhole You d understand that they aren't actually "my" murders... correct?
 @wynooheeman Enjoy the Japanese radioactive waste washing up on your nice ocean beach = )
 @wynooheeman You just made my day = )
"I am glad not live Seattle!"
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Lemme guess...a cave?
The traffic would be about the same on a Wednesday regardless of the tanker mishap. Absolute gridlock and bumper to bumper!!!!! :(
Sounds like someone didn't 'secure' their load. This will bugger traffic for quite awhile I imagine.
@theToucan the driver should have inspected it before leaving..yes i know not everything is visable to the eye but my have been able to prevent that but as for your secure their load there has been plunty of times i have "secured my load" and things do happen in the bigger trucks they viberiate alot more then ur average car so i could have been secured but came loose cause of the way the highways are
 @theToucan From the description, the contents may be Chlorine Dioxide which, over time, may cause the rings to corrode over time allowing for the spill, this would be a maintenance issue beyond driver's control.
 @theToucan "...may cause the rings (seals) in the connector housing at the end of the tank...." sorry I forgot to include this. Miss that edit button at the moment.
 @DarkRenegade Yup, I miss the ability to edit here too. Thx for the info
OH SNAP!!!
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Think that will mess with traffic??
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Hope they get that stuff contained fast! - there are homes up that hill!