Lanes blocked on I-75 near Gainesville as crews clean a chemical spill of phosphoric acid

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - Two lanes are open on Interstate 75 in Alachua County as crews clean an acid spill following a wreck Thursday morning.

Officials say two semi-trucks crashed on I-75 Southbound a couple of miles north of the Northwest 39th Avenue exit in Gainesville. The trucks went off the roadway and into the ditch and struck several trees.

Damaged chemical containers in one of the trailers required southbound lanes near the crash to be closed while these materials were removed. Southbound traffic was temporarily diverted off the Interstate at the 399 mm.

Officials say the truck was hauling 55-gallon drums of phosphoric acid, which spilled onto the road and ditch. Hazmat teams tested the air and found nothing of concern. Crews say they are unsure if the acid went into the ground.

The acid is used in the manufacture of fertilizers, livestock feeds, phosphate salts, polyphosphates, soaps, waxes, polishes, and detergents.

A chemistry professor from the University of Florida says the acid could be dangerous, but only if you come into physical contact with it.

“I would say that you probably wouldn’t have major effects just driving by. However, I think coming into direct contact with it could be really caustic for your skin, be very damaging to your eyes, so you definitely do not want to come into direct contact with phosphoric acid,” said Austin Evans, UF Chemistry Assistant Professor.

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“I was on my way to deliver a load and I saw a lot of traffic up ahead, and I saw a truck in the bushes flipped upside down and it was pretty messy, so I sat there for a long time and I just went on through,” said Jamie Milton, a truck driver.

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