18 Hours Later, Southbound I-85 Reopens in Durham

Durham, N.C. — Two lanes of southbound Interstate 85 in Durham reopened Thursday afternoon after being closed for nearly 18 hours because a truck carrying about three dozen barrels of a toxic chemical overturned.

The accident happened near the Hillandale Road exit just before 9 p.m. Wednesday.

One of the barrels of benzyl chloride leaked inside the overturned trailer, slowing plans to right and remove the rig.

City police said that what they called a "freak accident" began when a set of tires came off one axle of a northbound roll-off tow truck owned by Lethal Wrecker Service of Charlottesville, Va. The tires went across the median and hit the side of the southbound tractor-trailer, and it crashed onto its right side on the shoulder of the road.

Police said the driver, Brian Thomas, was listed in critical condition at Duke University Hospital.

Benzyl chloride is a colorless liquid with a pungent odor and is an irritant if the vapor is inhaled, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and chemical-industry data sheets. It also reacts if it is exposed to water, they said.

The chemical is used in making dyes and pharmaceutical products and as a photographic developer, the EPA said.

25 Comments

WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.

VIEW ALL 25 COMMENTS

This story is closed for comments. Comments on WRAL.com news stories are accepted and moderated between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Latest Comments

hp227, you are correct sir, it was not the roll back wrecker that crossed the median, it was the right side dual wheels,tires and brake caliper that went air born and struck the drivers door of the southbound 18 wheeler knocking the driver unconious the rig then sideswiped the right side jersey wall, when it came to the end of the jersey wall all right side tires on the rig were down and it rolled onto its right side. the driver suffered a severe injury to his left arm and is still in critical condition.

mike honcho
June 7, 2007 10:46 p.m.

This part of the story has to be wrong:

Quote: That truck went across the median and hit the side of the southbound tractor-trailer, and it crashed onto its right side on the shoulder of the road.

There is no way a tow truck jumped the jersey barrier there. The median barrier was completely undamaged today.

hp277
June 7, 2007 6:32 p.m.

I have to get on that road often and I spend more defensive driving time form 70 out of Raleigh to exit 171. It is nerve racking - and I stay off of 40 form RDU to Greensboro completly. I run 64 across or mostly take 1 south to Sanford to 321. Not as nerve racking. I hope the driver is going to be okay.

shine
June 7, 2007 5:35 p.m.

It does "seem" like there are more accidents on this strech of road then any other in the Triangle. If not more then at least more deadly or harmful. Though I'm not a proponant of adding highway patrol...maybe more "dummy" patrol cars. But I'd prefer to avoid the ones that can actually write me a ticket.

WillnDurham
June 7, 2007 4:50 p.m.

I was driving by shortly after it happened. The tires that came off of the northbound truck hit the tractor trailer and caused the accident. The northbound truck ended up lodged against and up onto the median.