Cargo Catastrophes: How Hazardous Material Spills Changed the Industry
On May 11, 1976, a truck operated by the Transport Company of Texas was carrying 7,500+ gallons of anhydrous ammonia on the Houston freeway system. As the vehicle transitioned from the I-610 overpass onto U.S. 59, the driver lost control—likely due to excessive speed and the shifting liquid load inside the tanker. The truck struck a guardrail, collided with a concrete support, and plunged 15 feet onto the freeway below. The tank ruptured, releasing a vast cloud of toxic ammonia gas into the air. The consequences were immediate and horrifying. Impact on the Public Fatalities & Injuries : Six people died on the scene from exposure. A seventh died years later from complications. 178 people were injured, 78 seriously enough to be hospitalized. Mass Exposure : Ammonia gas—colorless but highly irritating and corrosive—spread rapidly across a busy highway, affecting drivers, passengers, and residents nearby. Environmental Damage ...