Portion of I-30 in Arkansas remains closed after chemical spill

There was no estimate on when the stretch of highway, which is a busy truck traffic corridor, would fully reopen.

The Trucker News Services

1/12/2012

UPDATE: Interstate 30 is now open for both west and east bound traffic.

MALVERN, Ark. — Police said Interstate 30 remained shut down to westbound traffic between Arkadelphia, Ark., and Malvern early Thursday morning more than 12 hours after a crash spilled hazardous materials on the roadway.

Arkansas State Police said at 7:20 a.m. that the road was closed to westbound traffic and only partially open to eastbound traffic between the 78 mile marker and the 98 mile marker.

Both directions had been closed all night with traffic rerouted onto Highway 67, which included a trek through downtown Malvern.

There was no estimate on when the stretch of highway, which is a busy truck traffic corridor, would fully reopen.

Malvern is some 30 miles southwest of Little Rock.

Officials said Thursday that an 18-wheeler was carrying propyl acetate, a flammable liquid, when it wrecked around 7:15 p.m. Wednesday near the 86 mile marker, spilling at least some of its load.

A Little Rock radio station reported Thursday morning that the driver of the big rig died in the accident.

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