PARK COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4)– Colorado State Patrol Hazardous Materials crews were busy Friday evening cleaning up 10,000 pounds of ammonium nitrate.
A 2002 Dodge pickup hauling a trailer filled with the hazardous material crashed shortly before 6 p.m along Highway 285 near milepost 172 in Park County. The spill is 11 miles south of the town of Fairplay.
Highway 285 remained closed until 4 a.m. Saturday. Traffic was rerouted around the spill. Alternate routes used were Highway 24 and Colorado Hwy. 9.
Ammonium nitrate often is used in fertilizer and can act as an irritant if inhaled. Initial reports indicate the spill has not endangered any ground-water supplies.
No evacuations were ordered. First responders secured the scene and have evaluated any potential danger caused by the spilled material.
The driver of the Dodge, Michael Martin, 57, of Buena Vista, was not hurt in the crash.