Five dead after ammonia tanker leak

USA: Five people are confirmed dead after ammonia leaked from a tanker involved in a highway crash in Teutopolis, Illinois.

The dead included three from the same family — one adult and two children under 12. The other two were adult motorists from out of state. A further five people were taken to hospital.

The crash on I-70, east of Effingham, on Friday evening led to the evacuation of around 500 people from the town of Teutopolis.

All the fatalities were as a result of the ammonia leak. No one died as a direct result of the crash. 

The truck was reported to be carrying approximately 7,500 gallons of ammonia and reports estimate around 4,000 gallons were released.