NEWBERRY TOWNSHIP, PENNSYLVANIA — A peroxyacetic acid leak from a tractor-trailer on Interstate 83 in York County that began Friday evening stretched into Saturday afternoon after a second leak developed during the cleanup process, sending hazmat crews back to the scene and closing all southbound lanes for a second time.
The incident was first reported around 7:15 p.m. Friday near mile marker 32 in Newberry Township. A container of Microtox Ultra — a peroxyacetic acid intervention product — inside the trailer ruptured and leaked onto the roadway. I-83 was shut down in both directions between exits 32 and 28 at Zions View and Strinestown. The occupants of the tractor-trailer were evacuated and evaluated at the scene but neither required hospital transport.
Crews gradually reopened lanes overnight. One northbound lane reopened Friday night and a southbound lane opened shortly after 1 a.m. Saturday. All lanes appeared to have fully reopened around 12:45 p.m. Saturday.
However, around 1:15 p.m., as the acid was being transferred into another tote, that tote began leaking gas from the top. Hazmat crews returned and all southbound lanes were closed again. The left lane later reopened with full reopening anticipated around 6 p.m.
Pennsylvania State Police, PennDOT, the York County HAZMAT team, and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection all assisted at the scene.
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