I-85 now open after tanker overturns on Sunday

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR

I-85 NB in Carnesville is now back open.

Crews, local firefighters, and hazmat teams worked overnight to clear a tanker that overturned Sunday on I-85 NB at the 160 Exit in Carnesville.

According to Franklin County Sheriff Steve Thomas, it happened about 5p Sunday.

At first, it was thought the tanker was leaking fuel after employees at area businesses said they smelled toxic fumes.

A hazmat team was called in from Gainesville who determined the spill was a chemical called Methacrylates a derivative of methacrylic acid.

Methacrylates are common monomers in polymer plastics.The chemical is  used as a resin in some windscreen repair kits, dental materials and as bone cement for fixing prosthetic devices in orthopedic surgery, according to Wikipedia.

The Petro/Flying J Travel Center was shut down and employees evacuated along with other businesses on both sides of Highway 51 at the 160 exit.

By 8p G-DOT issued an alert to area residents and business owners within a one-mile radius of the accident to be prepared to evacuate.

By 10:30p the spill had been mostly cleaned up but local fire departments and crews continued overnight to pull the overturned tanker up from the ditch.

At this hour, 85 NB remains shut down at Exit 160.

WLHR News is continuing to follow this story and will bring you more information as it becomes available.