Tanker overturns carrying explosive materials, evacuations ordered

NEWBERRY, S.C. - Newberry County officials say a tanker carrying ammonium nitrate and blasting caps overturned on Highway 76 in the Kinard community this afternoon.
The wreck happened at about 1:45 p.m.

The Sheriff's Office said there is a mandatory evacuation in the area around the accident. The evacuation affects all residents and businesses in a half mile area around the wreck on Highway 76 and Riser Road.
News 4 Myra Ruiz said that the area is sparsely populated and the evacuation order only effected about a half dozen people.
Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster said in a release that the truck was leaking diesel fuel.
Foster said no one was hurt in the rollover.
The materials the tanker was carrying are used for rock quarry operations.
A State Law Enforcement Division team that specializes in handling explosives on scene removed the blasting caps from the truck and separated the components. Foster said the process is called "neutralizing."
At about 4:30 p.m., SLED's bomb squad finished removing the blasting caps. The truck will be slowly uprighted by two tow trucks to complete the cleanup process.
Ammonium nitrate is commonly used in fertilizer. A HazMat crew is heading to the location and will be on standby.
Foster said initially that the concern was that the two liquids could combine and be dangerous.
He said to avoid the situation motorists should use Interstate 26.

The Highway Patrol is investigating the accident. Investigators have not yet said where the tanker was from or where it was headed.


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