June 7, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (SH2001-39)
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
R. Steve Huffman
Public Information Officer
(334) 208-5806/Fax: (334) 208-5813
E-Mail: huffman@cityofmobile.org
TANKER TRUCK OVERTURNS ON INTERSTATE
Mobile Firefighters and Police responded to a tanker truck carrying Liquid Nitrogen over turned on Eastbound I-10 at the Northbound I-65 on ramp on Thursday afternoon, June 7, 2001. The wreck was reported at approximately 3:13 p.m. and firefighters arrived on the scene at approximately 3:20 p.m. The driver, James Ringo, 46, from Texas, was driving a truck owned by Cryogenic Transportation carrying approximately 42 thousand lbs. of Refrigerated Liquid Nitrogen when the truck over turned near the bridge on the on ramp to I-65. A small amount of the cargo escaped but stopped quickly due to the frigid conditions of the product. Ringo received minor injuries and initially refused treatment from Firemedics on the scene. He later changed his mind and was transported to Springhill Memorial Hospital. No other injuries were reported. The product had to be off loaded to another tanker truck before wreckers could move the damaged truck. Mobile Police blocked the on ramp entrance and traffic was rerouted until the scene could be cleared. The scene was cleared at approximately 1:07 a.m. Liquid Nitrogen is a cold, liquefied gas with a temperature of -321 degrees F. If it makes contact to the skin it will cause frostbite. Also it could cause suffocation by displacing the oxygen in the air if in an enclosed area or directly in the vapor cloud. Engines 16, 15, Haz Mat 15, truck 10, rescue 24 and District 4 Chief Harold Miller responded.
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