Hundreds evacuated, dozens in hospital after Oklahoma ammonia spill - UPI.com

Nov. 13 (UPI) -- Hundreds of residents in Oklahoma were evacuated from their homes following the crash of a semi-truck transporting toxic chemicals.

Nearly 1,000 local citizens in Weatherford, slightly west of Oklahoma City, left their residences Wednesday night after a toxic ammonia chemical spilled into the air that left nearly 35 people hospitalized.

"As the event unfolded, we had a large plume of anhydrous ammonia gas spread over a pretty large area," Weatherford's Emergency Manager Mike Karlin told a CBS News affiliate Thursday morning.

The crash took place after 10 p.m. CST, according to Weatherford Police Chief Angelo Orefice. Emergency alerts ere issued roughly an hour later.

Hundreds evacuated, dozens in hospital after Oklahoma ammonia spill - UPI.com

Other newsrooms on this story

Related reading

Hundreds evacuated and dozens hospitalized after an ammonia gas leak in Oklahoma

2 firefighters die in tanker crash, leaving Oklahoma town 'devastated'

1M subject to fire watch as Oklahoma fires continue - UPI.com

Part of hospital's roof ripped off and patients evacuated as damaging storms…

Bus carrying 13 young softball players rolls over in Oklahoma

Large tornado causes injuries, damages homes in Oklahoma - UPI.com