A southbound lane restriction was in place Friday afternoon on the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Toll 66 Amos K. Hutchinson bypass as emergency crews worked to mop up a hazardous material leak.
Minor slowdowns were reported in traffic getting by the closed right lane near mile marker 7, between Routes 130 and 30, according to turnpike spokesman Crispin Havener.
A truck driver notified officials that equipment broke on a tank at about 1:45 p.m., causing material to leak, Havener said. A Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher confirmed reports that the tank was leaking a hydrochloric acid solution. They said at about 4:45 p.m. that the material appeared to be contained.
Hazardous materials response teams from the turnpike and Westmoreland County responded, along with local firefighters, as crews worked to mop up the leak.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, hydrochloric acid is corrosive to the eyes, skin and mucous membranes. Inhalation may cause eye, nose and respiratory tract irritation and inflammation.
