A semi truck hauling hydrochloric acid overturned on an Illinois interstate early Friday, forcing hazmat crews into action and shutting down westbound traffic in McHenry County, according to local reports.
The crash happened on Interstate 90 near Harmony just after midnight, NBC Chicago reported. The truck flipped onto its side, and lanes were blocked while emergency responders worked to clean up the scene.
Illinois State Police confirmed the semi was carrying hydrochloric acid, a highly corrosive industrial chemical. No injuries were reported as a result of the crash, and it remained unclear Friday what caused the truck to overturn or how much of the liquid spilled onto the roadway, according to Fox 32.
An image from the scene showed the semi lying on its side with traffic backed up behind it while emergency vehicles clustered nearby.
Traffic diverted as crews work the scene
With the highway blocked, authorities advised drivers to avoid the area and seek alternate routes. According to Fox 32, all westbound traffic was being diverted off I-90 at Illinois Route 23, with drivers redirected to re-enter the tollway beyond the entrance ramp.
The investigation into the cause of the rollover remained ongoing. State police did not immediately offer additional details about the circumstances leading up to the crash.
What is hydrochloric acid?
Hydrochloric acid is a strong, corrosive acid with a wide range of industrial applications. According to the Chemical Safety Facts website, it is used to process steel for the building and construction industry, in the large-scale production of vinyl chloride for PVC plastic, and in the manufacture of polyurethane foam and calcium chloride.
It also is used to produce many other chemicals and serves as a disinfectant and slimicide — a chemical that prevents the growth of slime in paper stock. Common end uses include household cleaners, pool maintenance and food manufacturing.
MedlinePlus describes hydrochloric acid as a clear, poisonous liquid that is caustic and highly corrosive, meaning it immediately causes severe damage to tissues, such as burning, on contact. That property is what makes a spill involving the chemical a hazmat matter rather than a routine traffic incident.
There was no immediate word on how long the cleanup and investigation would keep lanes closed, or whether any of the acid reached the surrounding environment beyond the roadway.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/health/2026/10/16/video-semi-truck-hauling-hydrochloric-acid-overturns-on-illinois-roadway/