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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Huckleberries Online

Tanker Leaking Chemical Shuts I-90

ISP news announcement: "I90 has been reopened.  We appreciate the patience during this incident, as we know there were long delays due to heavy traffic."

A tanker truck leaking a hazardous chemical shut down Interstate 90 near the Washington-Idaho state line for hours Sunday and released fumes that sickened two police officers and prompted officials to advise nearby residents to stay indoors. A 6-mile stretch of I-90 from Liberty Lake to Post Falls was closed before 2 p.m. and remained deserted into the night. Officials also closed the Centennial Trail along the Spokane River and later shut down East Appleway Avenue, a detour route, as fumes from the truck spread in that direction. All freeway traffic then was diverted to East Wellesley Avenue to the north. The truck was parked at the Washington State Patrol weigh station and Port of Entry just east of Liberty Lake. At 9 p.m., an emergency alert was issued advising anyone within a half-mile of there to take shelter indoors with their windows closed and air conditioning off/Scott Maben, SR. (SR photo by Colin Mulvany: Firefighters with the Spokane Fire Department’s hazmat unit work to contain a tanker truck leaking vapors from a load of anhydrous trimethylamine)

Question: Aren't you a little nervous that trucks carrying toxic material zip by our towns on I-90. All. The. Time?



D.F. Oliveria
D.F. (Dave) Oliveria joined The Spokesman-Review in 1984. He currently is a columnist and compiles the Huckleberries Online blog and writes about North Idaho in his Huckleberries column.

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