MAPLETON, N.D. (KFGO) – One person is dead after two semi trucks crashed on westbound Interstate 94 a couple of miles west of Mapleton Wednesday afternoon.
According to State Patrol Capt. Bryan Niewind, around 1:45 p.m., a call came in to report a semi truck in the driving lane either stopped or driving slowly. Several minutes later, another call came in reporting a crash at the same location where the second semi struck the first from behind.
The second truck started on fire. The driver was unable to escape and died in the fire.
Thousands of gallons of water were hauled to the scene as firefighters worked to put out the flames.
The truck that was driving slowly or stopped was hauling around 7,500 gallons of airplane deicer that began leaking and was still leaking Wednesday evening. Niewind said the Department of Transportation was creating an earthen dam to prevent the fluid from flowing further into the ditch. He said an environmental team will be assisting in cleaning the spill.
Niewind said there is no danger from inhaling the deicer. They are hoping the deicer is being soaked into the snow and can be cleaned up by scooping that snow, but they are concerned it may be melting the snow or getting into the ground. If that happens, they will need to dig up the contaminated ground. He said they are monitoring that closely.
According to Niewind, the eastbound lanes of I-94 were closed for about an hour after the crash. The westbound lanes will remain closed into late Wednesday evening or early Thursday morning.
More information about the crash is expected Wednesday evening or Thursday.
The Cass County Sheriff’s Office, North Dakota Department of Transportation, Cassleton Fire, Mapleton Fire, Casselton Ambulance, and the Fargo Fire Department Hazmat Team assisted at the scene.
The crash remains under investigation.
