On Thursday morning, after an Illinois tractor which was hauling containers of anhydrous ammonia leaked the chemicals onto a road, sending toxic fumes into the air, 31 people were taken to the hospital. Police released a statement saying they had first seen a cloud of “smoke” around 4:30 a.m. The sheriff’s office also released a series of tweets which warned citizens in the nearby area to stay inside.
Beach Park Incident: Thus far, 31 transports to hospitals due to inhalation issues. At this point, all transports are non-life-threatening. #BeachParkIncident
— Lake County Sheriff (@LakeCoILSheriff) April 25, 2019
Early Thursday morning police officers in Lake County, Illinois, noticed “what appeared to be a cloud of smoke” around 4:30 a.m. A Sergeant and Deputy went to check out what was happening but when they arrived on the scene and “exited their squad cars, they were overcome with an airborne chemical,” [1] said a statement released by the sheriff’s office.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office have said that the 31 people who were taken to the hospital did not have life-threatening injuries and were harboring inhalation issues.
The office released multiple tweets warning residents in the area to stay inside with windows closed. A few hours later, however, they tweeted that the shelter-in-place request had been lifted but authorities would continue door to door checks.
Beach Park Incident: Law Enforcement and Fire Personnel are beginning a door-by-door check of residents in the immediate area, checking to ensure those closest to the scene are safe. #BeachParkIncident pic.twitter.com/NtT2FdJJqX
— Lake County Sheriff (@LakeCoILSheriff) April 25, 2019
Authorities later managed to narrow down the affected area to a one-mile radius near the intersection of Green Bay Road and 29th Street in Beach Park, roughly 50 miles north of Chicago.
Anhydrous ammonia is a colorless gas with suffocating fumes and can cause difficulty breathing, chest pains, irritation, and burns.
Notes:
- ^Beach Park Incident http://www.lakecountyil.gov/DocumentCenter/View/28258/4-25-19-Beach-Park-Hazardous-Materials-Incident (go back ↩)
