Truck carrying silicon tetrafluoride leaks, closes part of La. 347 near Henderson, LA

[Ian David]

GLIDE Number CA-20070915-13395-USA
Event type Chemical Accident Date / time 15/09/2007 - 11:47:13
Country USA Area -
County / State State of Louisiana City Henderson
Cause of event Unknown Log date 15/09/2007 - 11:47:13
Damage level Not or Not data Time left -
Latitude: N 30° 16.497 Longitude: W 91° 54.354
Number of deads: Not or Not data Number of injured persons: Not or Not data
Number of missing persons: Not or Not data Number of infected persons -
Number of evacuated persons: Not or Not data Population No data!

A tube truck leaking small amounts of silicon tetrafluoride closed down part of La. 347 and other rural roads in the Henderson area Friday morning.The leak was contained by Louisiana State Police Haz-Mat and no injuries were reported.The leak was reported around 6:30 a.m. Friday morning when the truck driver had stopped at a Valero gas station at the La. 347 exit off Interstate 10 in Henderson.

By 1 p.m., the incident was contained and businesses and closed roads were reopened.Traffic on Interstate 10 was not affected by the leak, but traffic exiting I-10 was blocked from accessing La. 347 south.After the leak was contained, the truck was driven to a remote area where the material was transferred to another vehicle, Anderson said."Our number one priority was the public safety," Anderson said.

Anderson said that a faulty valve may have caused the leak.Silicon tetrafluoride is a poisonous gas and is used as a compound in the production of microelectronics, according to Wikipedia.

St. Martin Parish Fire District, Breaux Bridge Volunteer Fire Department, St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office, Henderson Police Department, Louisiana State Police Troop I and State Police Haz-Mat responded to the scene.Anderson said the response crews were thankful for the Red Cross' involvement, supplying drinks and food to the workers."They kept us going," Anderson said.)

More:
http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/woalert_read.php?lang=eng&cid=13395

[eppur_se_muova]

1. Don't breathe that stuff.

Serious burns to the lungs, eyes, skin. Produces toxic hydrogen fluoride (HF) on contact with water.