A tanker spill led to the closure of a Mitchell County Road on Wednesday. Shortly before 9 am officers closed Hwy 226 North at Red Hill. State Highway Patrol said crews received a call that a tanker hauling 4,500 gallons of hydrofluorosilicic acid crashed on Hwy 197 North and a hazmat spill occurred. Crews with Emergency Management of Mitchell County and Asheville Hazmat were on the scene to contain the spill, and to prevent more environmental damage. Authorities don’t believe the trucker actually crashed; but that something in the roadway or shoulder punctured the tanker or the valve. The road is expected to remain closed for 24 hours as crews work to clean up the hazmat spill.
Drivers can take the following detour:
NC 197N at Yancey/Mitchell Line
226 N at Fork Mtn Road
NC 226 south, near Red Hill
The driver of the truck was taken to Mission Hospital with minor injuries.
