Crash Spilling Ammonium Nitrate Kills One, Closes Part Of I-80

Jan. 17, 2005
One person was killed and two injured in a crash that spilled an explosive chemical, prompting authorities to close westbound Interstate 80.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) -- One person was killed and two injured in a crash that spilled an explosive chemical, prompting authorities to close westbound Interstate 80.

The accident involving two tractor-trailers occurred around 5:20 a.m. Monday two miles west of the Happy Jack interchange in Telephone Canyon, about eight miles east of Laramie.

One of the trucks was hauling 117,000 pounds of ammonium nitrate. Little of it spilled, however, and there was no fire or explosion, according to Highway Patrol Sgt. Steve Townsend.

About 50 gallons of diesel spilled from one or both trucks, but responders were able to keep the fuel from mixing with the ammonium nitrate.

The injured were taken to Ivinson Memorial Hospital in Laramie.

The Highway Patrol reopened the passing lane around the accident site around midmorning and hoped to fully reopen the highway by noon.

Timothy McVeigh used 4,800 pounds of ammonium nitrate _ a common farm fertilizer _ to blow up the Oklahoma City federal building in 1995, killing 168 people.

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