(Estherville)– An accident involving a semi tractor-trailer loaded with 645 wet batteries made for quite a mess Sunday on Highway Four north of Estherville.
Estherville Fire Chief Randy Cody tells KUOO news the driver, who’s name wasn’t immediately available, was southbound on Highway Four when he swerved to miss a deer. The semi went into the ditch winding up on its side, scattering the contents…including battery acid…into a field.
The driver was taken by ambulance to Avera Holy Family Hospital in Estherville and was Life-Flighted to another hospital.
Cody says a hazardous materials crew from Mason City was called to the scene. He says they were able to neutralize the acid by spreading lime over the site.
The semi tractor-trailer, owned by Simpson Trucking of Farley, Iowa was totaled.
Cody says firefighters were called to the scene around 10:00 a.m. Sunday…shortly after the mishap took place. He says they were on the scene about 12 hours.
The highway was shut down while authorities cleaned up the mess.
