Eastbound Interstate 70 near Greenfield turned into a standstill Thursday after a semi caught fire in Hancock County, forcing emergency crews to shut down the highway and an exit ramp while hazmat teams moved in on the smoking wreck.
Traffic quickly stacked up as firefighters worked to knock down the flames, contain spilled cargo and deal with leaking chemicals on the pavement. Drivers in the area were funneled onto detours and told to brace for a long wait.
Officials: Semi Hauling Lithium Batteries Involved
An alert from the Indiana Department of Transportation reported that the burning vehicle was a semi hauling lithium batteries and that corrosive fluid from the load was leaking onto the roadway. That triggered the closure of eastbound I-70 and the eastbound ramp to State Road 9.
Crews remained on scene while hazmat teams evaluated the road surface and the spilled cargo, according to FOX59. Authorities have not released reports of serious injuries.
Traffic Impacts and Detours
Hancock County 911 warned drivers to expect lengthy delays and said westbound traffic would likely reopen before eastbound lanes, in a social post from the county dispatch. See the county post at Hancock County 911 on X…