Fear of hydrofluoric acid leak prompts evacuation of 5,000 in PennsylvaniaA tractor trailer carrying hydrofluoric acid sits on its side on Route 33 south near Wind Gap, Pa., on Saturday, March 21, 2009. (Xinhuanet/AP Photo)
Safety concerns resulting from the crash of a truck carrying large amount of hydrofluoric acid prompted evacuation of some 5,000 people in eastern Pennsylvania early Saturday, authorities said.
The truck was carrying some 33,000 pounds (14.9 tons) of acid and the acid spilled after the truck crashed near Wind Gap, Pennsylvania, Jeff Steiert with the local Office of Emergency Management told reporters.
About 5,000 people within a 1 mile (1.609 km) radius of the accident were ordered to evacuate as a precaution, and could be away for up to 24 hours, he said.
The driver, who was briefly trapped in the truck, was treated at a hospital and released. No other injuries had been reported, Steiert said.
In the USA they have an emergency alert phone system this was activated, a recorded message is auto-dialed to all land-line phone numbers in evacuation area
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