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Thursday, July 24, 2008

U.S. 220 reopened; chemicals cleared from highway

No injuries were reported in the 5:30 a.m. accident. The truck was carrying a load of explosives.

Fire, EMS and Roanoke Valley Regional Hazmat Team crews respond to the accident, where U.S. 220 intersects Yellow Mountain Road, early Thursday morning.

Stephanie Klein-Davis | The Roanoke Times

Fire, EMS and Roanoke Valley Regional Hazmat Team crews respond to the accident, where U.S. 220 intersects Yellow Mountain Road, early Thursday morning.

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U.S. 220 in Roanoke County was reopened around 10:10 this morning after hazardous materials were cleared from the road after a truck accident that closed the north- and southbound lanes of the highway.

A commercial truck carrying four types of explosives overturned at 5:30 a.m., spilling acetic acid onto the road, and backing up traffic for at least half a mile in both directions near the Kingery Brothers Market.

No one was seriously hurt in the incident, and emergency officials in Roanoke County said the single-vehicle wreck did not pose a threat to the surrounding area.

"People are not in danger," said Jennifer Conley Sexton, Roanoke County fire and rescue spokeswoman.

Authorities closed the northbound and southbound lanes of U.S. 220 between Yellow Mountain and Indian Grave roads, and officials from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and the company that owns the truck were called to respond to the scene.

The truck wrecked just after 5:30 a.m. No charges have been filed, according to a statement from the Roanoke County police.

Alcohol or drugs were not a factor, and the driver was wearing a seat belt in the crash, according to police.

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