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NEWS
U.S. 52 northbound traffic detoured into Kenova
Emergency crews respond to an overturned tanker truck Tuesday morning, March 9, 2010. The accident was located at U.S. 52 and W.Va. 75 in northern Wayne County.
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KENOVA -- Authorities believe a driver took a left turn a little too fast, causing his tanker truck to roll onto its side and block the roadway for several hours Tuesday.
The accident occurred about 8:30 a.m. at the intersection of U.S. 52 and W.Va. 75.
The truck overturned as its driver turned north toward Interstate 64. The Arkansas-bound tanker had just picked up a 4,000-gallon load of maleic anhydride at Marathon Oil's Neal Plant.
U.S. 52 northbound traffic was detoured temporarily into downtown Kenova. W.Va. 75 eastbound was closed, but other area roads were not affected.
West Virginia State Police identified the driver as Danny R. Bowen, 48, of Chesapeake, Ohio. He was not seriously injured. The tanker is owned by DistTech, which is based in Newbury, Ohio.
No maleic anhydride leaks were reported. The chemical is of a hazardous nature and forced crews to offload the cargo before the tanker could be turned upright.
The hazardous chemical would have created major problems if the tank would have ruptured, said State Trooper A.M. Whittington and Kenova Volunteer Fire Capt. Anthony Acord.
F.A. McComas, an enforcement officer with the state Public Service Commission's Transportation Division, credited the tanker's manufacturing with preventing a leak. McComas explained the tanker's metallic skin and the actual tank are separated by about 6 to 8 inches of insulating foam, which absorbs impact.
The Ceredo Volunteer Fire Department and Marathon's Cattlettsburg Refinery Fire-Rescue provided assistance at the scene.
