HOUSTON – A tanker truck crash early Thursday morning caused major backups on the Hwy 59 Eastex Freeway, but the Houston Fire Department said it’s no cause for alarm.
The crash was first reported around 6 a.m., according to Houston Transtar, on the Eastex Freeway and 610 North Loop near Cavalcade.
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HFD officials said the tanker truck flipped from the curve in the road, but the driver was not injured and refused to be taken to the hospital.
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A chemical was spilled due to the crash, and HFD explained it’s because the tank was hauling 44,000 pounds of zinc chloride. This, the public information officer said, is used as a condensing agent, disinfectant, dehydrating agent, wood preservative, and deodorant.
For that reason, officials said there is no immediate threat to the public and no shelter-in-place order would be issued.
At last check, HFD was waiting for a private contract to safely unload the chemical from the tanker, so traffic is still expected, which is the only thing that drivers should worry about, as it’s unclear when the ramp will reopen.