Local
Semi-Truck Rollover on SR-89 Spills Hydrated Lime, Sends Driver and Firefighter to Hospital
A semi-truck carrying hydrated lime overturned on State Route 89 in Chino Valley late Thursday night, trapping the driver and prompting a hazardous-materials response that sent both the driver and a firefighter to the hospital.
CHINO VALLEY, Ariz. â A semi-truck hauling hydrated lime rolled over on State Route 89 late Thursday night, trapping the driver and coating the roadway in white powder, according to the Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority.
The crash occurred around 10:52 p.m. on Nov. 5 near mile marker 333 in Chino Valley. When firefighters arrived, they found the vehicle heavily damaged and large quantities of white powder spread across the area. The substance was later confirmed to be hydrated lime, a caustic material used in construction and agriculture that can irritate the skin, eyes and respiratory tract.
Crews removed the driver from the wreckage, then assessed and decontaminated the person before transporting them to Yavapai Regional Medical Center for further treatment. A firefighter who experienced irritation from the substance was also taken to the hospital for a precautionary evaluation and was released later that night, officials said.
The cause of the rollover remains under investigation by the Chino Valley Police Department. The driver's current condition has not been released.
Hydrated lime, also known as calcium hydroxide, is a fine powder that can cause chemical burns and respiratory irritation on contact. Its presence on a state highway required firefighters to take extra precautions, including decontamination procedures, before treating the injured driver.
State Route 89 is a key north-south route through Yavapai County, and the stretch near mile marker 333 sits in a rural area just outside Chino Valley's town center. The crash adds to concerns about hazardous materials traveling through the region's highways, where emergency responders must be prepared for both traffic injuries and chemical exposure risks.
Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact the Chino Valley Police Department.