Vermont Highway Patrol Blames Equipment Failure in Route 9 Tanker Truck Incident

A hazardous materials incident on Route 9 in Woodford, Vermont, has been attributed to an equipment failure. On Monday afternoon, a tanker truck carrying flammable liquid methyl methacrylate crashed and separated into two parts near the Woodford General Store. Fortunately, no leaks were detected, but emergency responders deemed it a very serious situation due to the highly flammable chemical being transported.

The Vermont Highway Patrol and hazmat crews responded to the scene, and their investigation found that the tractor-trailer separated on a steep hill. The emergency brakes on the trailer engaged, causing it to stop against a guardrail while the tractor portion of the truck was moved to a safe location.

The driver was delivering the chemical from Tennessee to a Sherwin-Williams plant in Maine and has a good safety record otherwise, according to officials. Hazmat crews worked to transfer over 5,000 gallons of the chemical to a replacement tanker.