Illinois semitruck crash causes 5 fatalities and an ammonia leak evacuation for residents

A semitruck carrying 7,500 gallons of anhydrous ammonia overturned in Illinois in a multi-vehicle crash that caused five fatalities and sent another five people to local hospitals, officials said on Saturday.

The accident, which involved “multiple” vehicles, happened about a half-mile east of Teutopolis, Illinois, on U.S. Highway 40 Friday at about 9:25 p.m. local time, authorities said in a statement reviewed by CBS News. The impact of the accident caused the truck to begin leaking. That prompted the evacuation of 500 people, according to a news release from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

According to early estimates, about 4,000 gallons have been released, and the leak has been “partially patched,” the news release said.

Effingham County Coroner Kim Rhodes said five people died and five were flown to hospitals with unknown conditions.