At least five dead after crash, anhydrous leak in Effingham County

TEUTOPOLIS — At least five people are dead with a section of an Effingham County town being evacuated as a result of a Friday night crash.

A news release from the Illinois State Police Saturday morning revealed that a multi-vehicle crash occurred late Friday evening. At around 9:25 p.m., the accident took place along U.S. Highway 40 about a half-mile east of the town of Teutopolis.

The release indicated that a tractor-trailer that was leaking anhydrous ammonia.

“Due to the plume from the ammonia leak, people within an approximate one-mile radius of the crash have been evacuated,” the release said.

The evacuation order would include sections in the northeastern quadrant of Teutopolis.

A press conference Saturday morning revealed that the impacted zone remains closed. This zone is Highway 40 between Teutopolis and Montrose.

Officials from the Illinois State Police and Effingham County Sheriff’s Department advise that the public avoid the area. Crews are continuing their work to contain the leak. Emergency personnel continue with their response to the incident site, indicated as 19740 East U.S. Highway 40.

Illinois State Police noted that there was additional traffic on Highway 40 due to a crash east of Effingham on Interstate 70 at around 4:50 p.m.

For more local news, follow Jake Leonard on Twitter @JakeLeonardJRN and Heartland Newsfeed @HLNF_Bulletin on Twitter.

Additionally, you can follow Heartland Newsfeed on Facebook and Reddit among other platforms. You can now follow our news updates on Telegram, Flote, and MeWe.

Support independent journalism. Become a patron on Patreon for as little as $1 a month. There are other donor options as well.

Get the latest news updates on our radio network via Spreaker, TuneIn, and other platforms.

Jake Leonard

Website |  + postsBio

Jake Leonard, a broadcast media and journalism veteran, is the editor-in-chief of Heartland Newsfeed. Leonard is also GM and program director of Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network, wrestling editor and contributing writer for Ambush Sports, a contributing writer for My Sports Vote and Midwest Sports Network, and a former contributor to Bleacher Report and Overtime Heroics. He resides at home in Nokomis, Ill. with his dog Buster.

• Jake Leonard

  https://www.heartlandnewsfeed.com/author/admin/

  Nokomis Chamber dissolves, donates funds
• Jake Leonard

  https://www.heartlandnewsfeed.com/author/admin/

  Newkomis holds town hall meeting
• Jake Leonard

  https://www.heartlandnewsfeed.com/author/admin/

  Pana Easter Egg Hunt set for April 12
• Jake Leonard

  https://www.heartlandnewsfeed.com/author/admin/

  Witt Casey’s to close March 26