STE. GENEVIEVE CO. – An evacuation that may be affecting as many as 100 residents of Ste. Genevieve County was continuing today as emergency workers deal with the aftermath of a Monday morning truck crash. The truck was reportedly carrying a chemical described as corrosive and an irritant if inhaled, phosphorus trichloride.
The exact number of persons involved in the evacuation has not been disclosed. One emergency management official said it was fewer than 100, but that was only a guess. Efforts to come up with a more accurate number have been fruitless.
What is known, is that a truck carrying the chemical ran off Route C yesterday morning around the 11000 block. The driver of the truck was trapped in the vehicle for a time, until passersby were able to assist him in getting out. It is not known if he suffered any injuries in the crash.
There was no leak when the accident happened, but it was felt it was a significant enough possibility when the cranes started lifting the truck back onto the road that an evacuation was needed. Sheriff’s deputies went door to door in the area around the site of the accident, on Route C, on Sawmill Road and on Hennick Road. Those roads are now closed to all traffic.
A hazmat crew from Festus responded to the scene to take charge of the situation, arriving yesterday afternoon.
As might be expected, the impact of having to leave a home in just a few minutes has been hard.
Peggy Walker’s family is one of those. She related what it was like.
“Our house is one of the closest to the accident. I could see the emergency vehicles and knew it wasn’t good. We only had a few minutes (to prepare to evacuate), and I couldn’t think of what to grab…for possibly an overnight.
“(I am) Praying it goes well or could be longer. I grabbed our dog but no food. Just an inconvenience compared to the danger of cleaning it up. Pray all are safe,” she said. “We are just trying to plan on what we might need and for how long. They just don’t have those answers.”
Peggy said she was able to return to her home briefly.
“I got a call from the neighbor at 4:20 that there was a two hour window we could get in the house the window was 3-5 p.m. I was in town and it was a twenty minute drive. I wish they had a system to notify us. I wouldn’t have known had she not called.”
Peggy said her house is on Sawmill Road up a hill from the crash site. “Ground zero” she called it.
In the meantime, she is staying at her niece’s.
How long the evacuees must stay away is uncertain.
A post by the Weingarten Fire Department stated “clean up will more than likely take most of (today).”
And the message from the fire department warned: “Keep in mind that as the wind shifts, the evacuation area will as well. Please keep all emergency personnel in your prayers as they continue to deal with this.”