SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Autopsies have confirmed that five people who died when a chemical tanker overturned in central Illinois last month died from exposure to caustic anhydrous ammonia fumes, an official said Monday.
The official results confirmed preliminary findings from the Sept. 29 crash, Effingham County Coroner Kim Rhodes said. The victims, including two children, suffered severe chemical burns to their entire bodies, as well as their eyes and respiratory systems, she said.
The crash involving a tanker truck carrying the agricultural fertilizer occurred about 8:40 p.m. on U.S. 40 just east of Teutopolis, 110 miles (177 kilometers) northeast of St. Louis.
Killed in the crash were Danny J. Smith, 67, of New Haven, Missouri; Vasile Cricovan, 31, of Twinsburg, Ohio; 34-year-old Kenneth Bryan of Teutopolis and his children Walker, 10, and Rosie, 7, of Beecher City.
Traffic had been diverted onto U.S. 40 from Interstates 57 and 70, about five miles (eight kilometers) west of Teutopolis because of an interstate crash earlier that afternoon. Authorities believe the tanker accident occurred when a car tried to pass the truck, which jackknifed, overturned and landed on a trailer hitch near the road, which punched a hole in it.
Illinois State Police said earlier this month they identified the car involved but would not comment further.
Seven others near the crash site were hospitalized with severe burns, including three 18-year-olds and a 19-year-old who are members of a University of Missouri club swim team and were headed to Ohio State University for a swim meet. The others are a 66-year-old man, a 61-year-old woman and a man, 24.
Five have been discharged from hospitals, Rhodes said. Two — the 19-year-old swimmer from Olathe, Kansas, and the 61-year-old woman from Union, Missouri, remain hospitalized in critical condition.
2024-12-26 11:021821 view
2024-12-26 10:421219 view
2024-12-26 10:361085 view
2024-12-26 09:461291 view
2024-12-26 09:391714 view
2024-12-26 09:351082 view
In just a few weeks, the highly anticipated second season of Korean television series "Squid Game" w
Kourtney Kardashian was ready to poosh.The Kardashians star shared her birthing experience on the Ju
Almost a year after the Maui wildfires, half of the money from Hawaii’s largest recovery fund has be