Truck transporting mixed hazardous materials strikes truck transporting ammunition, shuts down I-26

Irmo, SC (Angelica Iglesias) - Shortly before 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 4, a tractor trailer truck containing mixed hazardous materials struck another tractor trailer containing small arms ammunition on Interstate 26 East between Piney Grove Road and St. Andrews Road.

According to Irmo Fire District Chief Mike Sonefeld, two people were "heavily" trapped in the wreckage. Irmo Fire District, assisted by the Columbia Fire Department, conducted a heavy extrication, and the individuals were freed and transported to a local medical center. According to Sonefeld, other vehicles were also involved in the collision. In total, six people were treated for non-life threatening injuries.

According to Irmo Fire District Assistant Chief Sloane Valentino, emergency personnel learned that the cargo in one truck was mixed hazardous materials while there was ammunition in the other. That is when they began evaluating the accident as a level three hazardous materials incident. Firefighters did not open the back of the hazardous materials truck until agents from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control arrived at the scene. At 8:00 p.m. Thursday, the crew was still on the scene figuring out what exactly was inside the truck transporting the hazardous materials and what to do about it.

As of 6:45 p.m., Interstate 26 East between Piney Grove Road and St. Andrews Road was completely shut down. Traffic was being directed to exit the interstate at the Piney Grove Road.

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  Irmo Truck Wreck 1

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  Irmo Truck Wreck 2

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  Irmo Truck Wreck 3