Tanker overturns; no environmental hazard

By By William F. West / community editor
Feb. 26, 2003
Meridian firefighters spent almost two hours Tuesday night at the scene of a tanker truck accident.
Deputy Fire Chief Sammy Foy said James Langham, age and address unavailable, was driving a nitrogen truck near the Highway 19 and U.S. 45 interchange when he swerved in an attempt to avoid hitting a deer.
Foy said the 18-wheeler went off the pavement and ended up on its side, knocking a hole in the tank.
A fire engine, rescue truck and battalion truck were dispatched after firefighters received the call at 9:18 p.m.
Foy said the tanker truck had been off-loaded prior to the wreck, so the amount of nitrogen in the tank was minimal and vaporized into a harmless gas. Foy said no environmental cleanup was necessary.
Foy said he did not know which direction the truck had been headed, but that the driver was not injured. Foy said the truck is owned by Praxair.
Praxair is a worldwide company specializing in the production and distribution of atmospheric, process and specialty gases and surface coatings.