One Lane Re-Opens on Jimmy Carter and I-85 Ramp After Chemical Spill

Update, 2:15 p.m.

At around 1:45 p.m., Gwinnett Fire turned over the incident to clean-up company Hepaco on the Jimmy Carter Boulevard ramp form I-85 North.

"The clean-up operation is not expected to take very long to complete," said fire spokesman Ct. Tommy Rutledge in a press release.

Police and a Department of Transportation HERO unit are still at the scene for traffic control since one lane of the ramp has been re-opened.

According the release, the spill of industrial soap was less than 30 gallons and appears to be accidental. It is believed it was erupted from a cap on the tanker, but it's unknown as to how it began leaking.

The soap's main ingredient is Naptha, a flammable substance that firefighters were able to quickly identify.

The truck was reportedly traveling from Illinois to Statham Georgia when the incident occurred, said Rutledge.

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2:03 p.m.

Gwinnett Fire and Police departments are responding to a chemical spill a on the I-85 Exit Ramp to Jimmy Carter Boulevard.

Gwinnett Fire Department spokesman Tommy Rutledge said that a tanker truck is leaking industrial soap. "The material has exposed a passenger car and a police car," said Rutledge. "There is also some product spilled along the trailer and on the ground."

Rutledge said that as a precaution paramedics checked the officer and two civilians from the two cars who had been exposed to the spilled chemical and that the three people have been released.

"The product is described as industrial soap and its main ingredient is a flammable substance," said Rutledge.  "A clean-up company is currently enroute to the scene to address the spill and associated clean up operation."

The leak has been stopped but the ramp is closed to traffic, I-85 and Jimmy Carter Boulevard are open as well as nearby Dawson Boulevard.

The ramp is closed to traffic at this time. The Interstate and JCB remain open, as well as nearby Dawson Boulevard.

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